STEI Alumni Chosen as Chairman of Unesco Global Geopark Youth Forum

The Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas succeeded in bringing Indonesia’s representative, Immanuel Deo Juvete Hasian Silalahi as the Chairman of the UNESCO Global Geopark Youth Forum in the 1st UGGp Youth Forum which consisted of 44 Geoparks Youth Representatives from 44 countries, with a total of 169 UGGp worldwide.

Immanuel Deo is a 2015 STEI student and graduated from the electrical power engineering study program with cum laude status in 3.5 years. Immanuel Deo is also chosen as the most outstanding student at STEI.

“I hope that youth will give voice and take concrete action in developing geoparks throughout Indonesia and the world, and get excited to contribute to spreading positive energy to encourage economic recovery and sustainable development, one of which is through the development of geoparks,” said Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Suharso Monoarfa in a statement. in Jakarta, Friday.

Suharso advised that the youth who are members of the Indonesia Geopark Youth Forum can become a representation of Indonesia’s geoparks that make the name of the Indonesian nation and state proud.

In the election, Deo beat two competitors from Romania and Malaysia. From Indonesia, apart from Deo, there were four other delegates namely Obed Kresna W. (Gunung Sewu UGGp), Diemas Sukma Hawkins (Rinjani-Lombok UGGp), Tri Wibowo (Belitong UGGp) and Safira Devi Amorita (GN Maros-Pangkep) who were members of the Indonesian retainer team Garuda Geopark Youth Forum.

Previously, from a total of 148 selection participants, the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas selected the Indonesian delegation through a series of agendas, namely the kick-off of the establishment of the 2021 Indonesia Geopark Youth Forum at the Batu Bedil Geopark Belitong Geosite, online and offline recruitment, to a workshop at the Batur UNESCO Global Geopark that works together with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Indonesian innovations for the UNESCO Global Geopark Youth Forum include the Geoparks Youth Platform Hub and the 1st UNESCO Global Geopark Youth Forum which is planned to be held in Bali in 2022, integrated with G20 Indonesia. The work program concept also carries the importance of network, engagement, and collaboration.

“Young people nationally and globally have unlimited power to disseminate and improve education about geoparks to the general public. Therefore, this forum is the right place for youth to express ideas and suggestions related to geoparks in a sustainable manner,” said Deo.

The Secretary of the International Geoscience and Geoparks Program UNESCO, Kristof Vandenberghe assessed that Indonesia’s work program will be able to connect geoparks in the world, through efforts to encourage the effectiveness and efficiency of information dissemination as well as increase public knowledge about geoparks.

Indonesia delegates, who was also directly involved in the drafting of the UNESCO Global Geopark Youth Conference, agreed on the importance of the role of youth as agents of change, collaborators, and innovators locally and globally to develop education, conservation, and community development in the context of geological, biological and cultural diversity. for a sustainable geopark.