Indonesia's Youth Voices Shape Global Storytelling on People and Nature

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The selection of Salsabilla Nur Feranti and Veldesen Yaputra for UNESCO’s Capture the Future: Global Youth Storytelling Initiative for People and Nature reflects how Indonesian youth are bringing local knowledge and creativity into global conversations on sustainability.

Their participation demonstrates that storytelling is not only about art, but also about translating biodiversity and cultural heritage into narratives that resonate internationally.

The program, organized under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme, opened registration in March and closed in May 2026, with representatives announced at UNESCO headquarters on July 29.

Indonesian Ambassador to UNESCO, Mohamad Oemar, welcomed the achievement as proof of the country’s youth contribution to global agendas, noting that Indonesia’s rich biodiversity and culture can be conveyed to the world through creativity and science.

Salsabilla, a forestry and biomanagement researcher at Yayasan Lokahita, presented her photo series Shared Ground from the Serengeti–Ngorongoro Biosphere Reserve in Tanzania. Her work portrays the Maasai community living in harmony with nature and wildlife.

“I want people to see sustainability as knowledge passed down through generations,” she said, on Thursday, August 13, 2026, as quoted by Antara, framing conservation as a living heritage rather than a static concept.

Veldesen, a master’s student in architecture at Tsinghua University, documented the revitalization of Shui traditional wooden houses in Guizhou, China, through his project From an Old House to New Hope. He is also applying green architecture rooted in local wisdom in Tenganan, Bali, in collaboration with Udayana University.

“Conservation is not only about preserving the past, but ensuring heritage grows for future generations,” he explained, emphasizing the role of youth in carrying traditions forward.

Both Salsabila and Veldesen will join the UNESCO x vivo Co‑Creation Camp at the Apennine Tuscan‑Emilian Biosphere Reserve in Italy from August 31 to September 6, 2026. There, they will strengthen storytelling skills and build international networks with peers from around the world.

By weaving together Maasai traditions, Shui embroidery, and Balinese green architecture, these young Indonesians demonstrate how local wisdom can be reframed as global lessons. Their journey reflects how youth storytelling is becoming a vital tool in shaping narratives of sustainability, justice, and cultural resilience. ***