Ultimately, the nation\u2019s future is not waiting in 2045. That future\nis growing in classrooms, in modest homes, on playgrounds, and in every\ncorner of the country where Indonesian children are learning about\nlife.<\/p>\n
Jakarta (ANTARA) \u2014 Twenty years from now, the children sitting in\nprimary school today will fill the important spaces of national life.\nThey will become teachers, doctors, farmers, scientists, law enforcement\nofficers, auditors, entrepreneurs, and even leaders of the republic.\nThey are not merely the next generation; they are the face of Indonesia\nin 2045.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the most important question is not whether Indonesia is\ncapable of becoming a developed nation. The far more fundamental\nquestion is whether we are truly preparing the generation that will lead\nIndonesia to become one.<\/p>\n
That question finds its relevance in the commemoration of the 42nd\nNational Children\u2019s Day (HAN) in 2026, which carries the theme \u2018Love\nChildren, Protect and Build the Future\u2019. The theme contains three\ninterconnected messages: affection, protection, and investment in the\nnation\u2019s future. All three are not merely slogans, but development\nagendas that must be realised in concrete terms.<\/p>\n
A great nation is not remembered solely for its economic progress or\nthe grandeur of the infrastructure it builds. A great nation is one that\ncan ensure every child grows up healthy, safe, respected, and with equal\nopportunity to develop their potential.<\/p>\n
The best investment<\/p>\n
Indonesia is looking towards Golden Indonesia 2045 with optimism.\nVarious development efforts are under way to strengthen national\ncompetitiveness, from economic transformation to human resource\ndevelopment. Yet there is one investment whose value surpasses all\nphysical development: investment in children.<\/p>\n
Toll roads can be built within a matter of years. Buildings can rise\nwithin months. Technology can be purchased or learned. Building human\nbeings, however, takes an entire generation.<\/p>\n
A child who receives good nutrition today will grow into a healthy\ngeneration. A child who receives a quality education will become a\nsource of innovation. A child raised in a loving environment will grow\nup with character, empathy, and self-confidence.<\/p>\n
Conversely, every child who loses their rights is, in truth, lost\npotential for the nation. Loving children is therefore not merely a\nmatter of affection; it is a strategic choice in national\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s National Children\u2019s Day theme also reminds us that\naffection without protection is not enough.<\/p>\n
Amid rapid technological development, children face increasingly\ncomplex challenges. Violence, bullying, exploitation, child marriage,\nand threats in the digital sphere remain serious problems requiring\nattention. For this reason, the HAN 2026 theme also promotes the\nstrengthening of the National Movement #RamahAmanNyamanAnak (Gernas\n#RANA) as a collaborative effort to create safe, inclusive living spaces\nfree from violence.<\/p>\n
Child protection must not be understood merely as a response when\nviolence occurs. Protection must begin far earlier, through warm\nfamilies, safe schools, inclusive public spaces, good digital literacy,\nand policies that always place children\u2019s best interests as the primary\nconsideration.<\/p>\n
From this perspective, the quality of child protection truly reflects\nthe quality of a nation.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/how-we-treat-children-determines-the-nations-future-1784530522", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }