In the words of Naila Amelia: “Young people have a greater capacity to influence than previous generations”

Interviewed by Vania Ramadhanty and Ryan Rihi

Naila Amelia, a young activist on environmental issues, has been a member of the National Gender Youth Activists (NGYA) of UN Women Indonesia since 2024. Previously, Naila was involved in and helped manage Envolvement, a youth organization addressing issues of climate change and inclusivity, while also serving as a member of the IBU Foundation Emergency Response team for disaster situations.

My activism began when I volunteered at Kampung Adat Cireundeu, Cimahi, West Java, during the traditional Suraan ceremony. Due to the large number of visitors, the volume of waste increased significantly. At that time, I was given the opportunity to serve as an educator on waste sorting at the ceremony. That experience made me realize just how important education truly is.

My activism centres on the climate crisis and waste management. I conduct advocacy in my local community by educating residents on waste sorting, particularly organic waste, and its processing into compost through the construction of bio pore absorption holes in household yards. This initiative has yielded tangible results in the form of a markedly more organized waste management system within my neighbourhood. Today, the volume of household waste that must be collected by sanitation workers has been reduced significantly.

Beyond merely preserving the environment, this effort also contributes to supplying organic feed for residents engaged in maggot farming businesses. In doing so, organic waste is properly managed, curbing the production of methane gas, a key contributor to the greenhouse effect. This work carries profound urgency, as it is we who will inhabit this earth in decades to come, and it is we who bear the responsibility of mitigating the worsening impacts of the climate crisis in the years ahead.

More specifically, my activism on the climate crisis also carries an agenda around the importance of inclusivity. We want to move young people towards having an awareness of both inclusivity and the climate crisis. We want to raise awareness that persons with disabilities and women can play a part in preventing the climate crisis.

So far, my activism has presented its fair share of challenges. Externally, engaging the heads of neighbourhood and community units, who are predominantly older adults, has been a difficult process to navigate. They hold their own established views, which makes it somewhat harder for us to provide more intensive education to older generations. Internally, my activism and that of my fellow advocates has also been somewhat hampered by each of our respective commitments and responsibilities.

Even so, none of those challenges have made me want to stop. There are moments of reluctance, but the drive to keep going usually comes from social media, for instance, when I come across a mini grant for youth activities. That kind of discovery reignites the desire to keep moving.

In my view, young people have a greater capacity to influence than previous generations, largely because we have been exposed to digitalization and technology, which equips us with the ability to influence both their peers and the generations that follow.

As a young activist, I call on fellow young people to not give up easily, to keep building relationships, and to remain continuously engaged in the issues we fight for. Fatigue is inevitable, but the support of fellow activists and the people closest to us is what will keep us going and strengthen our conviction on the goals we are working towards.”