Translating research into an event concept that brings the youth closer to meaningful climate activism

In 2023, PUSKAPA completed a qualitative study to better understand how Indonesian youth engage with climate and environmental activism. The research highlighted the critical role of young people in building a sustainable future, and emphasized the need for their participation to go beyond tokenism. The youth must be meaningfully involved in efforts to slow down climate change. To facilitate this, research is done to explore how youth currently engage with environmental and climate activism, this was the foundation of PUSKAPA's study.

However, for the research to have real impact, it cannot remain just a stack of documents. It needs to be shared with relevant stakeholders to foster understanding and encourage civic engagement in climate action.

Therefore, to make the research resonate and inspire action, particularly among young people and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), its narrative must be reframed. PUSKAPA has partnered with C4C to design an event concept that shares the research insights in an engaging way, one that sparks youth interest in civic participation and encourages CSOs to open up pathways for youth to take part in climate activism.

We created the event where both young people and CSOs can engage in-person to spark civic engagement

C4C understands that PUSKAPA's research explores the dynamics, both what works and what doesn't, when young people engage with CSOs in the context of climate and environmental activism. One key insight is that while youth are interested in taking action, the pathways to meaningful engagement often remain unclear or inaccessible. In response, we designed an event that creates space for young people to meet and interact directly with environmental CSOs.

The goal is to help them explore various forms of activism and identify opportunities that align with their interests, strengths, and capacity. This event, titled Jejak Aksi Kaum Muda, is built around the central idea that the journey of youth climate activism in Indonesia often begins with chance and inspiration, yet it unfolds in environments that feel safe but are ultimately limited, leading to activities that, while well-intentioned, remain far from creating systemic change.

To address this, the event adopts a format inspired by university "career days," a familiar and accessible model where organizations set up booths or stations, and participants move freely to engage in conversations, learn about different pathways, and discover how they might take part in environmental action in ways that are both meaningful and sustainable.

We created supporting communication materials to help people with varying levels of understanding about climate and environmental issues grasp the research more easily

In addition to using a career day-style concept, it was important for us to ensure that PUSKAPA's research remained front and center throughout the event. To achieve this, we repackaged the research into three key communication materials designed to make the findings more accessible and engaging.

Infographic visuals for event-goers

We translated the core insights of the research into a visual infographic that maps out the typical journey and missed opportunities of how young people get involved (or fail to get involved) in climate and environmental activism. The diagram highlights the moments where inspiration happens, where support is lacking, and where pathways tend to stall before reaching meaningful or systemic change. This infographic serves a dual purpose: it helps participants quickly grasp the research findings and also acts as a backdrop throughout the event, reinforcing the central narrative and sparking reflection and discussion among attendees.

Board game activity for the event-goers

To engage participants in a more interactive and experiential way, we adapted The Game of Life into a board game that reflects the real-life landscape of youth climate activism in Indonesia. In this version, players take on the role of young activists trying to pursue a climate or environmental agenda. Along the way, they encounter various enabling and impeding factors, some predictable, others based purely on chance, that influence their journey. The gameplay mirrors key findings from PUSKAPA's research: the randomness of opportunities, the lack of structural support, and the barriers that prevent youth from transitioning from interest to meaningful action. By the end of the game, we hope players will gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities young people face in climate activism.

Microsite for those who are interested about the research more

While presenting the research findings as a visual backdrop at a semi-public event helps raise awareness, it's not enough for those who seek a deeper understanding. To meet this need, we developed a microsite that hosts the full research findings in a more accessible, engaging, and navigable format as well as narrative. The site allows users to explore key insights, data, and recommendations at their own pace. It's designed for audiences who want more than just a snapshot, whether they're from civil society organizations, government, media, or young people looking to take the next step toward meaningful action.