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Youth as Researcher: UNESCO and Tanoto Foundation is Back Elevating Youth Voices
Jakarta, 22 November - One year after its groundbreaking launch, UNESCO and Tanoto Foundation’s Youth as Researcher – Tanoto Student Research Awards (YAR-TSRA) program has returned stronger than ever, continuing its mission to elevate youth voices in research and contribute to policy-making. This year’s Knowledge Summit, held at Ganara FX Sudirman in Jakarta, marked a new chapter in empowering Indonesia’s youth to tackle pressing societal challenges through evidence-based solutions.
Building on the success of 2023, this year’s program expanded its reach and deepened its impact, targeting students from Sumatera Island bringing the total of 96 participating students from different universities in Indonesia. In this knowledge summit, young researchers from across Indonesia, presented their findings to policymakers, academics, and private sector leaders, showcasing innovative approaches to addressing societal issues in Indonesia under different themes such as mental health, climate action, digital technology, and inclusive education.
The YAR-TSRA program is more than a research initiative—it is a transformative platform that equips youth with essential skills to address real-world challenges. Through training, mentorship, and guided research, participants are empowered to investigate topics of personal and societal importance, design sound methodologies, and analyze data to produce actionable recommendations.
91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ been working with thousands of young people worldwide by establishing and supporting youth-led initiatives and networks, strengthening youth capacities, fostering their knowledge production, and creating dialogue spaces between youth, policymakers, and civil society organisations. We are witnessing today how students are producing quality research such as on the impact of the implementation of government policy relating to climate action in Pulau Seribu; using digital technology to map out hidden culinary adventures in the City of Makassar; and strategies to push for a more inclusive education for children in fisherman village in Medan. These are real testament that youths could contribute and drive changes, they are the leader of today and tomorrow.
Without a doubt, today more and more, the voice and role of youth are crucial to drive sustainable development. The young generation’s awareness of global issues like education, social inclusion, and climate resiliency is growing. The government working with higher education and the development sector can create platforms to equip them and act as a launch pad for them to create change. Tanoto Foundation collaborated with UNESCO and our university partners to bring the Global Youth as Researchers program as a model for young people in Indonesia to have experiential on-the-ground learning and create solutions and policy recommendations to address gaps in their communities, in the hope that more youth will be aware that they too can be change agents and play a part in driving local actions. We hope that moving forward more collaborative efforts are initiated to bring youth’s perspective and creativity to the picture.
I feel incredibly honored to be part of the prestigious UNESCO Youth as Researchers Tanoto Student Research Awards program. My group and I were thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute towards a more equitable digital future through our project to improve our city’s domestic recognition. My group faced several challenges, from deadlines to technical difficulties, but I am proud of my group’s resilience and dedication. This led my group to create something truly innovative. I am grateful that our voices as young researchers have been heard and appreciated by UNESCO and Tanoto Foundation
A Platform for Change: Key Research Areas
The Knowledge Summit spotlighted youth-driven research across four critical areas, each addressing pressing challenges and offering innovative solutions:
Enhanced Mental Health Outcomes
Youth are directly impacted by mental health frameworks in society, and the YAR-TSRA program provides an important platform for them to contribute to policy on the issue. The students critically applied this lens to their local contexts for critical mental health issues such as post-partum depression in Posyandu, and the dynamics of toxic relationships among youth. This passion for destigmatisation shone through in the YAR-TSRA students’ research projects as they universally advocated for enhanced mental health support.
Equitable Digital Futures
The rapid pace on digital transformation increased efficiency and expansion of opportunities but also widen inequalities worldwide. In Indonesia, digital literacy remains a significant barrier for marginalized communities, particularly for MSMEs. The YAR-TSRA participants groups critically examined these gaps and proposed practical solutions to create a more inclusive digital ecosystem in Indonesia.
Transformative Inclusive Education
Education is a lifeline for marginalized communities, yet systemic inequalities often prevent inclusive access. Through research, the YAR-TSRA participants proposed creative solutions to improve access to education throughout the archipelago. The students examined critical societal issues, one example, they research on the employment of holistic education to engage marginalized Papuan students in Bogor. Their work highlights the transformative potential of inclusive education to empower underserved communities.
Innovative Climate Solutions
Climate change is not a distant threat – it’s an urgent crisis affecting lives and livelihood today. One of the most critical issues of the new generation is the push to enact innovative climate solutions. From turning biodigester residue as fertilizer in Jatinangor to tackling MSMEs emissions in Yogyakarta, this year research highlighted the power of local solutions in combating global challenges. The students’ research provides actionable insights into sustainable practices that protect both communities and the planet
Youth-led research is invaluable to creating inclusive scientific research, reflecting the diverse perspectives and experiences of young people. It also offers a novel approach that can shape evidence-based policies and legislation, ensuring youth voices are heard in decision-making processes. UNESCO is proud to announce the completion of the YAR-TSRA program for the second year in Indonesia, which successfully achieved the objective of elevating Indonesian youth voices in research and policymaking.
