Bekasi Mayor Urges Karang Taruna to Strengthen Youth Capacity

Bekasi Mayor Tri Adhianto has urged Karang Taruna to strengthen its role in building youth capacity and broadening access to employment opportunities. He stated that youth organisations must become spaces for skills development that provide direct benefits to their members. The message was delivered during the 7th Karang Taruna Regional Meeting for Bekasi City in 2026, held at the Nonon Sonthanie Hall on Thursday (25/6/2026). According to Tri, the challenges facing the younger generation today are not only about job availability but also about readiness to compete in an increasingly open global job market, including the opportunity to work abroad legally and professionally. He cited the example of several Bekasi residents who participated in a work programme in Japan. Although they initially earned between Rp18 million and Rp24 million per month, some managed to improve their skills and secure better jobs after completing their contracts. ‘The most important thing is that it is done legally. There are still issues with residents working through improper procedures, which leads to various problems later on,’ Tri said. He therefore assessed that Karang Taruna needs to take a greater role in encouraging youth capacity building through training, education, and skill enhancement tailored to the needs of the job market. He noted that a youth organisation should not merely be a place for gathering or discussion but must deliver tangible outcomes and benefits for its members. ‘An organisation must have clear outputs and outcomes for its members. How can Karang Taruna members develop, gain skills, and obtain better opportunities,’ he stated. Beyond youth capacity development, Tri also encouraged Karang Taruna’s involvement in various regional development programmes, including greening initiatives, public health, and social empowerment at the community level. During the event, Darkam Suryadi was elected as the Chairman of Karang Taruna Bekasi City for the 2026-2031 period through a deliberation attended by representatives from all sub-district chapters. The newly elected chairman said the organisation would continue to strengthen consolidation and maintain solidarity among members at all levels. He stated that Karang Taruna must become a platform for youth empowerment that provides real benefits to the community. ‘We want Karang Taruna to continue growing as an organisation that delivers benefits and serves as a space for youth to develop together,’ Darkam said. The 7th Regional Meeting also served as a forum for organisational consolidation and the formulation of the work programme direction for the next five years.