ABSTRACT

This study examines the use of development communication for youth empowerment in renewable energy projects in Indonesia. During development, youths can be agents of social change and drivers of development. However, their participation is never free from the power dynamics of development actors, i.e. between the government and rural communities, or between youths and elders. Using an appreciative inquiry technique involving community groups in two hamlets in Kulon Progo regency, Indonesia, this study finds that communication development is oriented primarily towards finalising infrastructure development, and fails to consider active participation. Meanwhile, although youth groups hope to be involved in designing and furthering the usage of renewable energy, they feel that their elders are hesitant to involve them in said projects; trust and power distance issues reduce them to passive participants. This study suggests that development communication in rural communities should be planned carefully, and that local values should be incorporated into the process. Although development communication may not result in youth empowerment, it may nonetheless shed light on power gaps and trust issues in youth-elder interactions.

摘要

本研究探讨了在印度尼西亚的可再生能源项目中使用发展交流促进青年赋权的情况。在发展过程中，青年可以成为社会变革的推动者和发展的推动者。然而，他们的参与永远不会摆脱发展参与者的权力动态，即政府与农村社区之间，或青年与老年人之间。本研究使用涉及印度尼西亚 Kulon Progo 摄政区两个小村庄的社区团体的欣赏性调查技术，发现通信发展主要面向最终确定基础设施发展，并没有考虑积极参与。同时，虽然青年团体希望参与设计和促进可再生能源的使用，但他们觉得他们的长辈不愿让他们参与这些项目；信任和权力距离问题将它们减少为被动参与者。这项研究表明，应该仔细规划农村社区的发展交流，并将当地价值观纳入过程中。尽管发展交流可能不会导致青年赋权，但它可能会揭示青年与老年人互动中的权力差距和信任问题。