'The youth are the pioneer generation'

Indonesians will commemorate the Youth Pledge Day on Oct. 28, the day when young people from various regions in the country declared one state, one nation and one language in 1928. The Jakarta Post talked to some young people about the day and their role in society.

Daru, 29, is an activist working with fishermen and workers. He lives in Jakarta. He was jailed for two years from 1997 to 1998 for subversion during the Soeharto regime:

The youth have always had a pioneering role; we are the agents of change. People say that the youth are antiestablishment and that is true.

If the young generation start conforming with the establishment, the community will not improve, it will stagnate.

We see the prevailing values in the political structure are those that victimize poor and marginalized people.

It is my duty to empower the marginalized and the poor, give them the hook to fish instead of giving them fish, as Confucius says.

I don't do this to earn money. To make ends meet, I occasionally seek part-time work as a translator or graphic designer.

Agi, 25, is a member of a non-governmental organization that is concerned with improving education in the country. She lives in Depok:

Well, I think the youth are relatively free of bias and not working to enrich themselves. We are independent, and that enables us to criticize any wrongdoings of the government in an unbiased way.

However, I don't see myself as a heroic figure. I am only doing what I have to do because I have to do something for others.

I am particularly concerned with the quality of education in the country. There are so many problems in education and I try to help in whatever I can.

I am now a coordinator for a campaign on the betterment of education. I organize discussions, I write articles for the print media to distribute information about our activities and anything related to education.

Marsal, 24, is an employee with an entertainment company in Jakarta:

What is the meaning of the Youth Pledge Day for me? Well, I really have no idea. I personally do not commemorate the day. But I agree with it in spirit. For me, I understand the spirit of it as the drive for the youth to work better as professionals.

Young people these days are different from the former generations. We now live life in the fast lane. In our early 20s, we have achieved more than our previous generation had at the same age. We see more and more young people gaining success and money that the older generation achieved at a later age.

We are better educated and compete for the best job we can get.

I see values as professionals as important for the youth now.

In return, we contribute to the nation's economy, to economic growth, due to hard work and fair competition as a good professional.

-- Evi Mariani