Essay Youth4Dev Academy Boot Camp

Youth Action to Eradicate Youth Unemployment through Creative Sociopreneur Movement in Local Communities

By: Syafrida Hanum

            The United Nations has agreed to advance welfare of the world with conceived the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The idea of SDGs emphasizes equality among all countries and citizens of the world without exception. All of us have the right to feel prosperous life free from poverty, marginalization and discrimination. This noble idea would not have been achieved without participation of whole society in the world included young generation. Youth is a figure that is believed can bring a change for nation. However, the young man who is able to create a change is those who dare to do the real action.

            So far youth unemployment becomes a complicated problem. A study recently shows 60% of the total number of unemployment dominated by young age. In my communities itself, there is a traditional mindset which is rooted in self youths. A view that the main goal of education is just to be an employee, if it is not they prefer to move to the city. As a results new problem arise. Urbanization increases population density and problem social such as social gap, urban slums, and rising crime. According to me it all caused by two factors. Firstly, many youths drop out of school even can’t continue to university. Secondly, lack of skills. All those factors are important to get a decent job.

            In my opinion there is no reason for youth to leave their village where they originated. The unavailable job opportunities in village are not the right reason, because actually it can create by us. Now days we are in the creative economy era. Where all people are free to express creative ideas become something that has sale value. I think everyone has own soul of art and creativity if it is developed, it will create new business opportunities.

Therefore, I have a plan to make a social movement by forming Creative Sociopreneur Community. It combines social and entrepreneurship perspective. The most important capital is ideas and social desire to be useful for others. We will work by embracing the local unemployment youth for entrepreneurship. Why should entrepreneurship? Because I think it contain comprehensive skills. It is not only talking about how to get money. It teaches how to be a leader, discipline, responsibility, struggle, and teamwork.

            To achieving the 17 SDGs especially in eradicating youth unemployment we need to campaign our common goals until communities in the grassroots level. Youth have role to make them aware and understand about sustainable development goals. So I think community is one of effective forum. We can discuss and share each other. Through this community spirit of SDGs is campaigned. I also have a plan to make ‘Entrepreneurship Class’. We will try making a small business simulation. Starting from production, packaging, until marketing. It is useful to help youths get a chance to feel how is the real business itself and drill them to be a creative and innovative people.

            Population are hoping to reach with this social movement is the local youths age 15-25 years who has spirit to move. So far, in my communities there is no social movement which is concern on youth unemployment eradication. So, I think it will be the first and may arouse youth interest to be an entrepreneur and make their life better. In a large scale by this movement we can help government in poverty eradication and there is no youth unemployment anymore.