Indonesia's Young and Restless

Indonesia's youth aged 18 to 20 years number about 62 million, 15 times the population of neighboring Singapore. Records show that youths are often the determinants of history, from the 1928 Oath of Youth, which formed the beginnings of the struggle for independence, to the onset of Reformasi in 1998. We present a mosaic report of young people who have committed themselves to doing something about the socio-economic problems in their home areas. In Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), a group of youths are teaching farmers innovative methods of increasing their agricultural products. In Makassar, Sulawesi, young people support forestry projects. And in North Ternate, Maluku, a youth community revives almost extinct traditions of a past sultanate era. Tempo English pays tribute to these brave and dedicated young people and others throughout Indonesia on the occasion of International Youth Day on August 12.