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UNESCO and Tanoto Foundation Foster Youth Engagement in Research and Policy Making towards Sustainable Futures
On 14 November 2023, the Knowledge Summit of UNESCO Youth as Researchers and Tanoto Student Research Awards (YAR-TSRA) brought together over a hundred students from various backgrounds and 6 partner universities from across Indonesia.
Held at Pos Bloc in Jakarta, a historical building revitalized into creative compounds, the event provided a space for exchange between youths, experts and policymakers. The gathering concluded a series of YAR-TSRA online training sessions, mentoring opportunities and Localized Workshops held across the country for 12 weeks, empowering students to respond to socioeconomic challenges with youth-led innovative solutions.
UNESCO and Tanoto Foundation have a common vision to equip youths with critical thinking skills and knowledge management through research processes using evidence to inspire public policy and development solutions.
The Knowledge Summit offered an exhibition space, where the YAR-TSRA participants exhibited their research products and interacted with experts and peers on the outcomes of their multidisciplinary work and policy recommendations on topics including climate change, inclusive education, youth participation, and sustainable AI.
Our research focused on the lack of women representatives in politics in North Luwu, South Sulawesi. We travelled there to collect data, and later analysed it, using feedback from UNESCO and Tanoto Foundation experts, to propose solutions based on research in the field.
A panel discussion with Ir. Suharti, General Secretary of The Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia, Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, Director of UNESCO Jakarta Office, Inge Kusuma, Country Head of Tanoto Foundation, and Chelsea Islan, youth and SDG activist, inspired participants to act as agents of change designing credible research, analysing data, and using digital tools to communicate results and visions for inclusive, resilient, and creative communities.
YAR-TSRA workshops were conducted in Jakarta, Malang and Makassar, in partnership with leading universities. It connected students from various faculties to tackle issues with a broader perspective. Challenges faced by communities require a multistakeholder approach, and we believe that young people can have significant roles in development.
The various backgrounds and perspectives in our research team helped us shape adapted solutions to address the education issue in a socially isolated scavenger community.
The Knowledge Summit concluded with a networking dinner and cultural program. Various governmental and non-governmental partners attended the event and connected with students, with the idea to celebrate the achievements of the participants and explore future collaboration.
