The commemoration of Youth Pledge Day, celebrated every October 28, serves as a vital reflection for all Indonesians, especially the younger generation. This annual observance is not merely ceremonial but a call to reignite the spirit of unity, struggle, and contribution to the nation amid the tides of change.
Maemun, Founder of Aktivist Connection, emphasized that the values embodied in the 1928 Youth Pledge remain profoundly relevant today, even though the form of struggle has evolved.
> “In the past, young people fought with bamboo spears against physical colonization. Today, they fight against modern forms of colonization—through corruption, disinformation, digital poverty, and moral decay,” said Maemun in Jakarta, Tuesday (October 28, 2025).
According to him, today’s youth have enormous opportunities, living in an era of open information and rapid technological progress. However, he also cautioned that globalization brings new challenges that could erode the spirit of nationalism if not balanced with strong character and ideals.
> “Young people today have a powerful tool—social media. But that tool can either build or destroy. The spirit of the Youth Pledge must be translated into digital collaboration, not just viral moments,” Maemun added.
He further stressed that the spirit of “One Motherland, One Nation, and One Language” is not about uniformity, but about unity of purpose—how youth from diverse backgrounds can synergize to drive constructive social, political, and economic change.
> “Modern youth activism must be adaptive. In the past, youth voiced their struggles in the streets; now, they can fight through social startups, environmental campaigns, or digital literacy movements,” Maemun explained.
In closing, Maemun urged all Indonesian youth not to lose direction amid the fast currents of modernization.
> “Be youth who are not only digitally literate, but also morally and nationally conscious. The spirit of the Youth Pledge is not merely a memory—it is a compass that guides us toward the future,” he concluded.
