Young people are strategically positioned to expand safely managed sanitation access, fueled by their energy, creativity, and willingness to embrace new ideas. As digitalization expands, their proficiency in information and community technology become powerful tools to raise awareness and influence behaviors. By using social media and online platforms, young people can actively advocate sustainable safely managed sanitation access, engaging their communities, peers, and decision makers.
Recognizing this potential, USAID IUWASH Tangguh has been collaborating with the government, communities, and universities to engage young people in promoting safely managed sanitation and hygiene practices through series of public campaigns since early 2024. Key initiatives include the Youth Movement through a collaboration with Teens Go Green community and Bakrie University in September 2024. In the following month, USAID IUWASH Tangguh partnered with the Ministry of Public Works and other USAID funded programs involving youth through the 2024 World Habitat Day celebration. These activities not only deepened the young people’s understanding of the issue, but also unlock innovations, helping to effectively raise awareness and drive action.
The Executive Director of Teens Go Green, Bambang Sutrisno, highlighted that young people need to be involved as actors in water, sanitation, and hygiene activities. Further, Bambang emphasized that for young people to meaningful engage in the sectors, they need support from government and other stakeholders. “We need recognition, capacity building, mentorship, and inclusive policy,” he said at the 2024 World Habitat Day celebration.
A youth movement participant from Teens Go Green, Azmah, demonstrates that opportunities for growth and mentorship can significantly enhance creativity. “This youth movement allowed me and 19 other young people to share stories and discuss action plans related to the (sanitation) issue, in a creative and inspiring way,” she explained.
After participating in the event, Azmah created an actionable campaign on safe sanitation, using a storytelling approach aimed at teens and children. “My social media timeline contains many children’s stories from accounts that I follow. It seems like it would be fun and interesting for children, by making storytelling with a similar concept in the sanitation sector,” she shared her initial inspiration for her campaign strategy.
In mid-November 2024, she wrote a story about safe septage treatment for children, which she compiled into an audiobook and shared on her Instagram account, @azmahhh_18 in collaboration with @teensgogreen.id and USAID IUWASH Tangguh’s @airsanitasi. The story received positive feedback from netizens, as it educates children and parents about safe sanitation in a fun way, achieving 3,300 story plays within three days of its release. “When children listen to the stories along with their parents, they will inspire parents to ensure access to safely managed sanitation at home,” she hopes.
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