Youth Become Resilient with GenTa

To improve the resilience and disaster preparedness of young people, Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia) through the Urban Nexus program together with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) introduced an online learning platform called GenTa or Generasi Muda Tangguh Bencana. GenTa was introduced to coincide with the momentum of World Humanitarian Day on August 19, 2023.

The platform, which has been developed since January 2023, has various learning materials, including Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Gender-Based Violence. The platform was developed from and by young people and the materials have been customized and consulted together with young people.

Maulinna Utaminingsih, Project Manager of Urban Nexus Plan Indonesia said the module in GenTa can be accessed by young people to increase their knowledge and insights related to disaster resilience and preparedness, especially issues that are very close to them such as gender-based violence.

“Regarding gender-based violence, especially in emergencies, many cases of gender-based harassment occur, one of which is due to lack of knowledge. So, with this platform, we hope that young people can understand and reduce the risk of gender-based violence in emergency situations,” she said on the sidelines of the World Humanitarian Day commemoration at Martha Christina Tiahahu Literacy Park, South Jakarta. The process of developing GenTa began with a workshop involving various institutions and youth representatives to identify what materials are needed by young people. Then the material was reviewed and developed to become a learning module that was carried out online. Furthermore, the development of the platform carried out some adjustments to the materials and methods to be used by testing with young people.

Visitors tried to access GenTa platform. (photo: Yayasan Plan International Indonesia/M.Reysa)

One of Depok’s young people, Meutia, has tried this platform. According to her, there are many things that can be learned from GenTa, especially disaster preparedness which she thinks young people need to know.

“The material is useful, not just reading, but I can do some questions to hone the material. In addition, information related to this disaster needs to be given because if we don’t prepare from now on, we don’t know what information or knowledge makes us resilient to disasters,” he explained.

Efforts to improve preparedness and resilience among young people were also appreciated by Nelwan Harahap, Assistant Deputy for Emergency and Post-Disaster Management, Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia who attended the World Humanitarian Day commemoration. According to him, knowledge and skills of preparedness and resilience must be passed on to young people so that they can continue the programs that have been running.

“The threat of disaster is permanent, and can be sustainable, if we don’t pass it on from now on, I think we will have difficulties in the future who will continue the programs that have been initiated by humanitarian agencies,” he said.

The GenTa platform can be accessed through E-Tangguh, an online learning portal developed by BNPB as distance learning to improve knowledge and skills in disaster management in order to realize a resilient Indonesian nation in the face of disasters.

The GenTa platform is also part of the Urban Nexus Phase 2 program. This program is implemented by Plan Indonesia from July 2022 to June 2025. The program, which is supported by ANCP-DFAT and Plan Australia, aims to create a healthy, safe and resilient environment through empowerment and leadership of urban youth. In implementing the program, Plan Indonesia partners with MDMC and Teens Go Green.

Author: Muhammad Reysa – Program Communication Specialist Plan Indonesia