The Youthful Gaze Toward a Golden Indonesia: Essay Competition Award Ceremony by IA ITB and Bangkit Anak Bangsa
By Indira Akmalia Hendri - Mahasiswa Perencanaan Wilayah dan Kota, 2021
Editor Anggun Nindita
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id — The ITB Alumni Association (Ikatan Alumni ITB or IA ITB), in collaboration with the Bangkit Anak Bangsa community, hosted an award ceremony for the essay writing competition titled “Indonesia Emas di Mata Saya” (A Golden Indonesia Through My Eyes). The event took place on Friday, May 9, 2025, at the Center for Art, Design, and Language (CADL) Building, Ganesha Campus of ITB. The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to encourage Indonesian youth to articulate their thoughts and engage in critical reflection regarding the national vision of a Golden Indonesia by 2045.
The program began with a welcoming address by Didik Fotunadi, an alumnus from the ITB Class of 1993 and the founder of Bangkit Anak Bangsa. In his speech, Didik emphasized that although the year 2045 may seem distant, it is in fact drawing near—and with it comes the urgency for today’s youth to take concrete action in shaping the nation’s future. “A Golden Indeonsia may seem far away, but in reality, it’s approaching quickly. The call for real action must start now, and it must come from young people,” he stated.
This event was grounded in Didik’s belief that writing is not only a powerful tool for fostering critical thinking, but also a meaningful platform for personal and collective expression.
“When we write, we bring in emotion. If we can inspire young Indonesians to write, we’re inviting them to undergo a spiritual process—one in which they imagine and define what a ‘Golden Indonesia’ truly looks like,” he added.
On the same occasion, Prof. Dr.rer.nat. apt. Sophi Damayanti, Director of Alumni Relations and Career Development at ITB, also delivered her remarks and expressed sincere appreciation for the event’s organization. She reaffirmed that alumni are an integral part of the ITB community and emphasized that their engagement plays a vital role in nurturing student development and supporting learning ecosystems on campus.
“ITB alumni are citizens of ITB. We warmly welcome them into our creative spaces,” she said.
She further highlighted that various training programs and workshops initiated by alumni serve as concrete, ongoing contributions to the academic community.
“We truly believe that every moment of connection brings with it immense good. Thank you for holding this competition,” she concluded.
This event stands as a significant milestone in fostering synergy between academic institutions, alumni networks, and community organizations. Through writing, participants were not only able to present their ideas—they also reaffirmed their commitment to becoming active contributors in the collective journey toward realizing the vision of a Golden Indonesia by 2045.
Reporter: Indira Akmalia Hendri (Urban and Regional Planning, 2021)
Translator: Malika Fatima Lawe (Microbiology, 2022)
