“Bumi Suaka” (Earth is our place to seek for protection)
Indonesia | West Java Child Campaigner | 2023
Selamat Siang!
We are West Java Child Campaigner, a group of creative and brave children and youth who are interested in tackling climate change and the important role that young people can play in this fight.
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13 – 24 years old
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The Right-Sized Problem
Climate crisis continues to be a big global problem that threatens everyone’s lives, especially children and the youth. Unfortunately, not everyone knows just how big of an issue this is, especially in West Java where the young and older people don’t understand how climate change affects our rights, health and even our future.
What did we do?
We believe that the earth is not only a place we live on, but a home we must protect for future citizens. So we set out on a mission to spread this message through our campaign, Bumi Suaka.
We kicked off with Nearnata, an essay-writing competition that brought together 30 bright young minds to express their thoughts and potential solutions to climate change. We were so overwhelmed with enthusiastic submissions that we even had to extend our deadline.
Then, we spread our message to different schools in our region. First, we held an event for elementary students to learn about the importance of forests. Next, we went to junior high school and took students on an adventurous one-night camp in Lembang. University students attended a one-day workshop in Pasundan, diving deep into conservation efforts.
Our adventure led us to the Ciletuh Geopark, where we set up “Blue Journey”. Here, elementary students discovered the magic of the sea through storytelling, hands-on planting of mangroves and corals, and an engaging online seminar.
With the power of music, we made our message even easier to reach a wider audience! Together with our partners and the youth, we created an anthem for change that echoed far and wide.
This campaign culminated in the “Festival Bumi Suaka”, a grand showcase of our activities and successes. Besides our community, government officials and public figures bore witness to the power of youth in action.
Campaign Impact
Our efforts ignited awareness among children and youth, empowering them to continue spreading the word on the climate crisis. With newfound knowledge and confidence, they are now ready to demand accountability and inspire their peers to join their cause. Through the campaign and their efforts, they were able to establish 3 partnerships with government institutions: Provincial Agency of Tourism and Culture; Provincial Agency of Child Protection; and Provincial Agency of Environment and Forestry. This child-led campaign was featured in the local and national media as well. This is a testament to the strength of young voices in inspiring change.
Impact in Numbers
Engaged around 500 individuals in person
Created partnerships with 3 government agencies
