Karang Taruna Joyotakan (In-depth case study)

KTJ’s Impact on Youth Participation in Urban Governance

This in-depth case study report was written by MSc Social Development Practice (University College London, UK) students Alice Chai, Haifa Alowain, Hanna Christine, Jiankun Sun, Qian Yang and Chongxian Jin following their Overseas Practice Engagement in Surakarta, Indonesia in collaboration with the YUP project. The students were supported by local facilitators Asri Septarizky, Dimas Hatta Aramadhan and Yulina Rahayu Listyo Putri. 

Note: This report has been edited for presentation on the YUP website.

1. Introduction

Karang Taruna Joyotakan (KTJ) is a part of Karang Taruna (KT), an organization established by the community to serve as a forum for the young generation to develop, grow, and advance based on awareness and social responsibility, with the goal of achieving social welfare. KT upholds social values, particularly solidarity, and operates on a tiered organizational mechanism from the Village/Subdistrict level up to the National level. KT’s foundation is based on the Pancasila philosophy and the 1945 Constitution, with government support since September 26, 1960. KTJ is particularly recognized for its efforts in climate disaster mitigation, waste management, and maintaining local Javanese traditions while supporting community economics through cooperation with local enterprises.

This report explores the case study of youth participation in shaping urban governance in Solo, Indonesia. It is divided into two main parts:

Part One: 

Covering the youth group’s mission and objectives, context of the initiative’s focus, history, constituency, main activities, funding, model of young people’s participation, challenges, supporting factors, and digital tools.

Part Two: 

Covering the lessons learned towards youth participation in urban governance, with an emphasis on the implications of findings, wider agendas for inclusive youth participation, and how concepts such as power relations, intersectionality, and inclusive citizenship can advance youth participation in urban governance in Solo.

Part I

1. Mission & Objectives

KTJ is dedicated to empowering the youth through personal development, skill-building, and fostering social responsibility. Rooted in the values of Pancasila, the official, foundational philosophical theory of Indonesia, and the 1945 Constitution, the organization emphasizes social solidarity and focuses on creating a better, fairer community through multiple initiatives. 

Their objectives are clear, and can be divided into different levels: 

• At the individual level, it focuses on cultivating knowledgeable, skilled, and responsible individuals, as well as encouraging active participation in community development actions. 
• At the community level, it seeks to address local socio-economic issues and promote social welfare and solidarity. 

While the overarching KT mission is shared, specific priorities may vary based on local needs and input from community members, leading to potential differences in focus areas. Overall, KTJ endeavors to encourage the potential of youth to contribute meaningfully to their community as well as fostering a sense of responsibility and empowerment. However, some KTJ members also express a desire to having a bigger role than as messengers of the government.

2. Context of KTJ’s Focus

Joyotakan, located in the heart of Solo, is an area named after brave soldiers who historically defended their home with resilience. Today, Joyotakan faces significant challenges, particularly due to its topography and proximity to rivers, making it prone to flooding.

KTJ focuses on political, economic, cultural, social, and environmental domains to address these challenges and priorities.

Politically, KTJ acts as the link between the youth and the government, to inform the youth of government information and express the needs of the youth to the government when possible. 

Economically, KTJ supports local small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The initiative helps advertise these businesses through activities like bazaars, thereby increasing their visibility and encouraging the local population to support them. This economic support is important to boost local commerce and provide sustainable livelihoods.

Culturally, KTJ plays a significant role in preserving Javanese traditions. It offers training for young people in traditional music (Gamelan) and dance, and encourages the craft of traditional handicrafts (Batik). This cultural preservation is crucial for maintaining the community’s heritage and identity. KTJ ensures that the rich cultural legacy of Joyotakan is passed down through generations, fostering a sense of pride and continuity within the community.

3. Karang Taruna Joyotakan Timeline History

KTJ organizes events at the Joyotakan community level to foster social responsibility among youth and related stakeholders. In 2014, KTJ held a competition in order to extend its visibility and introduce it to a wider range of young people. Also, different types of activities were also initiated, such as society’s bazaar, social service, and community events like blood donors and healthy stroll. These events helped young people to gain experiences in organizing community events, which was a foundational step in leadership development.

In 2018, KTJ held society’s bazaar and cooperated with local MSMEs. After holding the bazaar for six days, they continued to hold ‘Gelar Budaya’ as the highlight of the bazaar. The event was supported by ISI (Yogyakarta Indonesian Art Institute) and mainly funded by the government. The event was also supported by local small enterprises and tourist groups, and was able to give a chance for tourists to learn more about local cultures and daily life. 

2021 was a remarkable and challenging year for KTJ. It was the year that the new KTJ leader took office, and it was also one of the years of the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, there were several key events KTJ held. There was an interfaith youth discussion called “Merajut Tikar Kebhinekaan dalam Keberagaman” initiated by the religious section under the new leadership, which enhanced the cohesion of members of different faiths within the organization. Also, KTJ members distributed face-masks in Joyotakan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As well as youth with different religions were invited to attend a workshop, which aimed to help people to avoid getting affected by a case of religious harassment that happened in Jakarta. KTJ cooperated and invited a lecturer from University of Sukohardjo and a Joyotakan public figure as the workshop speakers. Moreover, a door-to-door fund-raising was held to support the victims of Semeru. Post-2021, KTJ members were more unified after the series of activities that happened in the year.

In 2022, KTJ held a community-level competition for kids to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day. In addition, mothers representing RW (neighborhood) and PKK (Empowerment of Family Welfare) collaborated with UNS (​​​​Sebelas Maret University) students during a community service program (KKN) aimed to strengthen the bond between young students and Joyotakan. Moreover, KTJ did door-to-door fund-raising activities to help the people affected by the earthquake in Cianjur.

In 2023, KTJ organized the Joyotakan cultural carnival to showcase Javanese culture and traditions as a platform for youth to engage in cultural protection. As for 2024, the gathering night (Makrab) took place in RW 1 in order to promote communication within the youth and to encourage them to share views on current issues and foster a sense of ownership and active participation in Joyotakan affairs.

4. Constituency

KTJ operates within the Joyotakan area, primarily engaging with the local youth but also serving the broader community. According to KTJ’s article of association, membership is open to all Indonesian citizens who meet certain requirements, without discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, descent, gender, socio-economic position, or political stance. This inclusive policy ensures a diverse membership base that reflects the community’s demographics.

KTJ segments its members into active and non-active categories. Most youth in Joyotakan are members of KTJ, with active members typically aged between 20 and 25 year olds. The gender distribution among active members is 60% women and 40% men.

While the majority of members are Muslim, there is a small Catholic minority, highlighting the religious diversity within the organization. There are members from all RTs of Joyotakan, and a representative of each in the leadership team. 

The membership spans different administrative levels:

• City Level: Members range from 12 to 48 years old.
• Sub-District Level: Members range from 17 to 45 years old.
• Provincial and National Levels: Members range from 17 to 55 years old.

Leadership within KTJ is elected through voting, with terms lasting five years, ensuring a structured and democratic approach to governance.

KTJ’s activities are designed to benefit both its members and the broader Joyotakan community. While KTJ members, who primarily drive these activities, gain opportunities for socialization, personal development, and community engagement, the entire community reaps the benefits of these initiatives. For instance, KTJ’s efforts in climate disaster mitigation, social services, cultural preservation, and economic support extend well beyond its membership to impact all residents of Joyotakan.

Many join KTJ for various reasons, including the desire to socialize, a sense of comfort and belonging, and the opportunity to make friends and reflect their identity within the community.

5. Main Activities

KTJ engages in a variety of activities aimed at enhancing social welfare, community engagement, and youth participation in Joyotakan. Their main current activities are climate disaster mitigation and social services, cultural preservation and promotion, community events, economic support, and political and civic engagement.

Climate Disaster Mitigation and Social Services: KTJ actively addresses local problems such as flooding by supporting crowdfunding for mitigation projects, building community kitchens, and delivering food to lighten the burden on affected residents. They hope to replace broken dams in Joyotakan to further prevent flood-related issues. Additionally, KTJ has established a disaster youth association and regularly organizes social service activities, including blood donation drives at Joyotakan Smart Park. Cleaning up the neighborhood has also been a long-standing activity, consistently carried out for decades to maintain a cleaner and healthier environment.

Cultural Preservation and Promotion: KTJ is dedicated to preserving and promoting local heritage. They organize cultural events such as the Joyotakan cultural carnival and traditional Javanese music and dance sessions. In 2018, they held a cultural festival and a youth discussion meeting. 

Community Events: KTJ holds numerous community events to enhance social cohesion and provide entertainment. These include games, film festivals with candies, electronic sports games, and Independence Day competitions for kids, helping to strengthen community bonds and provide fun and engagement for all age groups.

Economic Support: KTJ supports local micro and small enterprises by organizing bazaars and other promotional activities. For instance, they held a six-day bazaar in 2018 with support from Institut Seni Indonesia, which helped local businesses gain visibility and customers.

Political and Civic Engagement: KTJ works to strengthen national spirit and civic engagement, promoting Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) and the principles of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. They act as a conduit for government messages to local people. In 2022, they organized events to help community members better understand each other and foster a more connected community.

KTJ still receives limited funding based on their proposals, and have an after-the-fact role in climate disaster mitigation. They hope to expand their role towards advocating for the struggles and aspirations of the youth, as well as delivering community-focused projects that meet the challenges of the area of Joyotakan, and Solo as a whole. 

6. Funding

The main sources of funding for KTJ come from a combination of dues, donations, and government assistance, as outlined in Article 27 of the association’s regulations. Specifically, the funding sources include:

Government Assistance: KTJ benefits from annual funding from the Village Community Empowerment Institution (LPMK), known as the Village Development Fund (DPK). Additionally, they can receive extra funding by submitting proposals for specific activities, such as bazaars, to the government during the Development Planning Deliberation (musren).

Member Contributions: KTJ members pay monthly fees, the amount of which is collectively agreed upon. These dues help cover the costs of events and activities, especially since approved funds from donors are often disbursed only after events occur.

So far, there are no restrictive conditions attached to the funding, other than the requirement to submit accountability sheets detailing the activities conducted.

7. Model of Youth Participation

KTJ’s participation model can be characterized as a combination of invited and claimed space, resulting in a co-produced space. Co-production, a term coined by Elinor Ostrom in the 1970s, is defined as “a process through which inputs from individuals who are not ‘in’ the same organization are transformed into goods and services” (Ostrom, 1996, p. 1073). Over time, the concept of co-production has evolved to include not just individual citizens and groups but also the state, private sector, and civil society (Lee & Scholten, 2024; Brandsen & Pestoff, 2006; Verschuere et al., 2012; Bovaird, 2007; Alfaro-d’Alençon & Torrent, 2020).

Initially, KTJ began as a community initiative aimed at fostering social responsibility and awareness among young people. Since then, it was integrated into the Ministry of Social Services structure, and it serves to support government initiatives by acting as a bridge between the village administration and the community. This transformation indicates an invited space, where the government provides the platform and resources for KTJ to operate, including annual funding from the Village Community Empowerment Institution (LPMK).

KTJ still retains elements of claimed space, where community members independently initiate and participate in activities without direct government instigation. This dual nature allows KTJ to operate within a co-produced space, balancing between government-led initiatives and grassroots efforts.

Co-produced participation, as seen in KTJ’s model, generates win-win situations for all involved actors (Lee & Scholten, 2024; Osborne & Strokosch, 2013; Khine et al., 2021). KTJ’s activities, such as information dissemination, social services, cultural events, and disaster relief efforts, benefit both the community and the members. For instance, small entrepreneurs like canting (batik tools) makers gain visibility through cultural events, enhancing local economic development. The government benefits from KTJ’s role in efficiently communicating with the community and implementing cost-effective public services, such as distributing COVID-19 masks.

Co-production enhances public service efficiency and effectiveness, reduces government financial burdens, and fosters societal trust and communication (Lee & Scholten, 2024; Needham, 2008). KTJ’s activities not only address immediate community needs but also strengthen social cohesion and community pride.

Despite these benefits, young people’s participation in decision-making remains limited. KTJ does not advocate for policy changes or engage in direct critique of existing programs, reducing their role in influencing government policies. This is partly due to overlapping and unclear governmental responsibilities in youth empowerment, leading to inefficiency and uncertainty. Different departments handle various aspects of youth activities, which can cause confusion and hinder coherent policy implementation. 

In Indonesia, young people are traditionally expected to be polite and agreeable. This tradition can also impact on their participation. As a government official said “We have a culture where young people have to be polite and obey their parents, but that is not the entire context, this culture does not regulate aspirations, it only regulates communication”. This way of communication, combined with some bureaucratic inflexibility, may limit the space for young people to challenge the status quo and fully engage in urban governance.

As co-produced spaces blend invited and claimed spaces, the KTJ case study reveals a gap within this co-produced space. Both the government and young people find themselves in a liminal state of producing space, hindered by cultural, political, and socio-economic hierarchies. These hierarchies may contribute to miscommunication, lack of trust, or sluggish progress.

8. Challenges and Supporting Factors

One of the main challenges and supporting factors for KTJ’s mission to increase social welfare in Joyotakan is its membership system. The voluntary nature ensures that members are genuinely interested in improving their community, which aligns with the mission of KTJ. However, the management has observed a lack of interest in social issues among the youth, as many are preoccupied with school or work. This results in a fluctuating number of active members, impacting the continuity and effectiveness of their initiatives.

Despite this, being a part of KTJ is seen as a positive social and religious endeavor, which attracts members who are motivated by societal and Islamic values. The majority of KTJ’s active members are between twenty to twenty-five years old, which, according to Indonesian Law No. 40 of 2009, classifies them as youth. This demographic is a supporting factor because young people are often viewed as having potential, creative, and adaptive, as highlighted during the fieldwork in Indonesia  and as supported by the UN (2010), which describes youth as key agents for social change, economic growth, and technological innovation. Young members have ignited a sense of togetherness and belonging in the community, aligning with KTJ’s mission of enhancing social welfare.

KTJ’s success in promoting youth participation in urban governance faces several challenges. The decrease in active members affects the number and quality of their activities, limiting their influence. Although KTJ operates under the Government’s social services department, providing them with authority and community trust, this affiliation may also restrict their ability to operate independently within the four domains of urban governance as described by Frediani (2015): protest, advocacy, involvement, and delivery.

The government’s involvement has the potential to limit KTJ’s ability to express dissatisfaction or critically hold authorities accountable, especially on major issues like flooding and inadequate service delivery. This reduces their capacity to protest and advocate effectively. Moreover, the invited space for decision-making is often limited to leading members at the city level, hindering broader youth involvement in governance processes.

Additionally, KTJ’s has not fully adopted technological integration for its internal management, which poses significant challenges. This impacts their ability to monitor and report activities efficiently, and their adaption to modern governance demands.

Despite these challenges, KTJ’s alignment with government programs provides some support. The funding and approval of activities enhance their capacity to deliver social welfare initiatives. However, KTJ’s limited influence in policy advocacy and the government’s funding constraints further complicate their efforts. Their aspirations, often related to tangible resources rather than skill development, face difficulties in securing government support, reflecting a need for a more strategic approach in advocacy and resource management.

9. Use of Digital Tools

KTJ utilizes digital tools such as Instagram and WhatsApp to enhance their organizational effectiveness and community engagement. Instagram serves as a key platform for KTJ to display their activities and connect with a broader audience. By showcasing their initiatives, they not only attract attention and support but also boost their brand image. This increased visibility promotes the development of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Joyotakan, drawing potential visitors and stakeholders to the area and thereby boosting local economic activities. Additionally, showcasing their work on social media enhances team pride and contributes to a better perception of the Joyotakan area.

WhatsApp is used for internal communication and disseminating important information from the village leader to Joyotakan residents. This platform supports KTJ’s role as a bridge between the village administration and the community, ensuring effective communication and coordination.

However, KTJ faces some challenges in their digital strategy. For instance, they have not yet explored platforms like TikTok due to the absence of a dedicated admin and the perception that their activities do not align with typical TikTok content. Despite this, they plan to start using TikTok next month (June 2024), which could potentially broaden their digital reach and engagement.

For content creation, KTJ relies on free apps like Capcut for design and video editing, enabling them to produce high-quality content without substantial financial investment. Nonetheless, they still use traditional bookkeeping methods for financial management. Additionally, KTJ’s management does not utilize technology for internal system management, posing challenges in adaptation, monitoring, and reporting their activities. This reliance on manual processes may hinder their ability to scale operations further.

As shown in Kota Kita’s 2016 Making All Voices Count report, “Musrenbang -Development Planning Consensus- requires the availability and accessibility of information to enable community engagement. As Roberts (2004) explained, information sharing becomes challenging in the participation process since there is a difference between those who have access to rich information and those who do not.” (p.54) By improving their information dissemination practices, KTJ can ensure equitable community participation.

Part II

2.1 Reflections and Lessons Learned

The case of KTJ in Solo, Indonesia, provides significant insights into how youth participation in urban governance is conceptualized and framed. Using Sen’s (1999) capability approach, we can analyze how the local youth group impacts the capability of participating in urban governance.

Sen’s perspective emphasizes that development should be seen as a process of expanding the real freedoms that people enjoy. Youth participation in urban governance, therefore, should be about providing young people with the opportunity to shape their own destinies rather than just being passive recipients of policies and programs (Sen, 1999). In Solo, KTJ’s active members aspire to have more influence at the national and sub-district levels, voicing their struggles and aspirations to have a stronger impact on projects and policies affecting them. However, the design of government-initiated and supported youth initiatives often creates a difficult balance regarding the extent of the freedoms exercised and how much the youth can challenge existing restrictions, policies, and social structures.

While KTJ members are invited to planning sessions, their participation is often symbolic, intended more to validate the group’s existence and share reports rather than genuinely involving them in decision-making. This reality underscores a broader issue in global debates about youth participation: the need for genuine inclusion rather than tokenism. For youth participation to be meaningful, it must move beyond formal inclusion and ensure that young people have substantive roles and influence in governance processes (Monno and Khakee, 2012).

Drawing on Rancière, we can highlight the progressive force of citizen participation in shaping and being shaped by participatory planning. Any attempt to control or limit citizens’ engagement with urban processes only provides further impetus for transformation and new expressions of antagonistic participation beyond the state and traditional participatory planning frameworks (Legacy, 2017; Purcell, 2016).

Globally, there is a growing recognition of the critical role young people play in shaping sustainable futures. According to the UN’s Young people, Participation, and Sustainable Development in an Urbanizing World (2012), meaningful youth participation is vital for achieving equitable and sustainable development. However, the KTJ case shows that despite being included in participatory activities, youth often remain marginalized in decision-making processes. Their participation is frequently symbolic, highlighting a gap between the aspiration for inclusive participation and the reality on the ground.

To reflect the lessons learned from Solo, wider agendas for inclusive youth participation should ensure transparency and accountability, capacity building, and institutional support. These agendas must aim to empower youth as active stakeholders in governance processes, not just as consultants or advisors. Policies should be designed to facilitate youth involvement in government, recognizing the diverse backgrounds and experiences of young people. An intersectional approach that considers factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity is crucial for fostering inclusive citizenship and ensuring that all youth voices are heard and valued (Allen, 2006).

There is evidence that concrete project outputs have significant symbolic value, contributing to empowerment by illustrating the achievements of participating community members. This empowerment is further associated with public recognition by disaster managers of community vulnerability and the heightened profile of local issues raised through micro-projects (Allen, 2006). Community-based approaches are thus fundamental for participant empowerment and effective in transmitting ideas and claims from the bottom up (Allen, 2006).

The lens of power relations can significantly contribute to advancing youth participation in urban governance. Youth organizations like KTJ often face power imbalances that limit their ability to influence policy. To address this, it is essential to ensure that youth have equal access to decision-making platforms and resources, allowing them to participate on an equal footing with other stakeholders. This involves not only inviting youth to participate but also actively dismantling barriers that prevent their full involvement.

Intersectionality is another critical lens. In Joyotakan,  certain voices and identities may be excluded from the conversation. By adopting an intersectional approach, youth participation initiatives can ensure that diverse identities are acknowledged and represented. This approach helps address the unique challenges faced by different groups within the youth population, fostering a more inclusive and equitable participation process (Allen, Lambert, & Yap, 2016).

Inclusive citizenship, as a concept, emphasizes the rights and responsibilities of all citizens, including young people, to participate fully in the governance of their communities. By promoting inclusive citizenship, initiatives can encourage a sense of belonging and responsibility among youth, motivating them to engage more actively in governance processes. This can be facilitated through education, capacity building, and creating spaces for youth to express their views and contribute to decision-making.

Using Sen’s capability approach, we can comprehensively analyze KTJ’s role in youth participation in urban governance. This analysis involves examining the capabilities and opportunities provided to the youth, such as their involvement in national-level planning, project proposals, and disaster management. This may also include achievements such as their participation in a democratic context at a young age and their progression to higher political or social roles.

KTJ’s activities demonstrate the importance of creating capabilities that allow youth to engage meaningfully in governance. By involving youth in planning and decision-making processes, KTJ helps them develop essential skills such as proposal writing, fundraising, and community engagement. These skills not only enhance their ability to participate in urban governance but also prepare them for future leadership roles.

Moreover, KTJ’s efforts in supporting SMEs, preserving cultural heritage, and leading climate disaster mitigation initiatives show how youth can contribute to various aspects of community development. These activities raise expectations and hope among the youth, motivating them to seek a stronger role in voicing their struggles and aspirations.

Using the lens of hyper-specificity, we can understand that the strategies to disrupt unjust urban trajectories are highly context-specific and cannot be generalized. This perspective highlights the need to tailor approaches to the unique circumstances of each community, ensuring that interventions are relevant and effective (Allen, Lambert, & Yap, 2016).

The lessons learned from KTJ provide valuable insights for global debates on youth participation in urban governance. To move beyond tokenistic inclusion, it is essential to empower youth as active stakeholders, ensuring they have substantive roles and influence in decision-making processes. This requires addressing power imbalances, adopting intersectional approaches, and promoting inclusive citizenship.

Using Sen’s capability approach, we see that creating opportunities for youth participation involves not just providing formal roles but also enabling young people to develop the skills and confidence needed to shape their own destinies. By reflecting these lessons in wider agendas for inclusive youth participation, we can ensure that young people play a meaningful role in building sustainable and equitable communities.

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