Gen-Z Finalists Compete to Convince Panelists for Village Tourism Service

The Genera-Z Berbakti 2026 programme has introduced a new judging format, prompting finalists to devise optimal strategies to convince the panel that their ideas for target tourist villages can be successfully implemented and have maximum impact. The eight finalists must pass through three rigorous stages to win the opportunity to realise their programmes at the designated locations. They will present before three panellists: Nicholas Saputra, Bakti BCA Ambassador; Cinta Laura Kiehl, entertainer and sociopreneur; and Tri Mumpuni, scientist and social entrepreneur. The first stage of this Bakti BCA call for proposal programme is the Idea Pitch, where each finalist is given 10 minutes to present their best programme design. The next stage is the Think Tank, in which finalists have 60 seconds to answer the panellists’ questions. If the panellists respond to the answer, the finalist may give a response within a maximum of 30 seconds. The final stage is Head to Head, where finalists can debate, ask questions, answer, and defend their respective ideas while testing the strength of their programmes. Unlike the previous year, this edition introduces a new rule: in each stage, a team may only be represented by one different person. This means every individual in a team has an equal chance to appear before the panellists and their opponents. This rule surprised many finalists, including Tessa from the DESA HIDUP team representing UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung. She admitted her initial feelings were chaotic and she was extremely nervous, but she tried to smile. She felt most proud when she could speak and answer the panellists’ questions, integrating what she considered good responses. A similar sentiment was shared by the Laskar Selasik team from Universitas Gadjah Mada. One member, Faruq, confessed he was initially nervous and even considered asking to be replaced, but then decided to stop worrying about right or wrong and simply focused on telling the story of his presentation. Behind the tension and adrenaline, the competition aims to achieve a greater goal. Bakti BCA hopes Genera-Z Berbakti 2026 can help students generate innovative ideas ready to be implemented in the daily life of each target village. EVP Corporate Communication & Social Responsibility BCA, Hera F. Haryn, expressed confidence that the eight selected finalists have extraordinary potential and that the new final round format will help them unlock that potential to apply their ideas at the activity locations. Four of the eight finalists will earn the chance to implement their ideas in four tourist villages: Desa Wisata Kreatif Terong in Belitung Regency, Desa Wisata Situs Gunung Padang in Cianjur Regency, Desa Wisata Patakbanteng in Wonosobo Regency, and Desa Wisata Kakaskasen Dua in Tomohon City. Entertainer and sociopreneur Cinta Laura Kiehl advised the finalist campuses to keep their proposals simple, suggesting it is better to solve problems gradually rather than trying to do everything at once and ending up with an unrealistic and unsustainable system.