Development communication for youth empowerment in Indonesia’s renewable energy projects

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.