Discourses of Non-Formal Pedagogy in Two Youth-Oriented Indonesian Environmental NGOs

Abstract

This article compares two youth-oriented ENGOs (Environmental Non-Government Organisations) in Indonesia. Comparative analysis focuses on how the two organisations provide discourses that configure differently the pedagogic space of experiential learning for children and young people. Despite an apparent low level of environmental awareness generally among the Indonesian population there does seem to be some enthusiasm for environmental activities among certain groups of young people. However, it seems different kinds of young people are drawn to different kinds of environmental activities. Conceptually, if we accept that there is an imagined space of the nation (Anderson, 1991) we can logically propose an imagined national space of the physical environment. Thus different agents of change will imagine and configure this space differently so that certain kinds of engagement and learning follow. Escobar (1999) points out that what we perceive in the environment as "natural" is always also cultural and social. So for example, transnational logging companies understand the Indonesian forests as a natural resource to be exploited, while student nature-lover groupsMahasiswa Pencinta Alam -constitute forests as recreational places to camp and walk in nature. This paper examines two ENGOs designed to appeal to young Indonesians: Sahabat Alam -Friends of Nature -founded in 2008 by a 12 year old schoolgirl after Jakarta flooding, and Tanam Untuk Kehidupan -Planting for Life -an arts collective which aims for learning about the environment through creative practices and festivals in Salatiga.

The Success of Youth-Oriented Environmental NGO: A Case Study of Koalisi Pemuda Hijau Indonesia

“…11, No. 26;2015 marginal groups. This indicates that in practice NPOs actually have complex relations with other stakeholders, where interests and claims from actors involved are varied and not always aligned to each other.…”

“…11, No. 26;2015 floods and landslides have become intense due to excessive exploitation of nature, which causes massive damage in Indonesia annually. In this respect, KOPHI was established to explicitly 'unify youth in being responsible and responsive to creating sustainability in Indonesia'.…”

“…11, No. 26;2015 concerns and inquiries -for instance, to whom non-profit is supposed to be responsible.…”

“…The ENGOs themselves were organized by young Indonesian middle class, who were mainly students from renowned universities in Indonesia such as Bandung Technology Institute, Bogor Institute of Agriculture, University of Indonesia in Jakarta, and Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta as well as other universities in various cities. Nilan (2015) refers to these ENGOs as youth-oriented ENGOs.…”

“…11, No. 26;2015 The choice of campaigning through online and social media is fitting for youth as they are the largest users of online social media.…”