Indonesian embassy commemorates 93rd Youth Pledge Day

The event, which was held recently, was attended by representatives of Indonesian youth in Qatar from various backgrounds such as students, artists, athletes and young entrepreneurs.Indonesian ambassador to Qatar Ridwan Hassan said the event was initiated to show that loving Indonesia can be done by anyone, from anywhere. “Being a diaspora does not mean being less of a nationalist. On the other hand, by becoming a diaspora abroad, we have the privilege to serve our country even more,” he said in his opening remarks.Dr Anto Mohsin, an Indonesian academic at Northwestern University in Qatar, began the discussion by asking what Indonesia means and how the young diaspora can contribute to Indonesia. Starting from this question, the participants then discussed various topics, from youth leadership, gender equality and access to education and health, to environmentally sound development and sports.“Indonesia for me is not just a column in my passport. More than that, Indonesia is a place where my soul and heart resides,” said Izhar Fadhlurrasyad, an Indonesian student at an international school in Qatar." In line with Izhar, for Kayana Elmaadi, Indonesia is both her home and identity. This is what motivated her and her friends to establish AnakQatar, an Indonesian youth community in Qatar that actively explores Indonesian cuisine, fashion, pop culture and heritage.Every year, the Indonesian Youth and Diaspora in Qatar commemorate the Youth Pledge Day which falls on every October 28. In 1928, a group of young Indonesian nationalists had gathered in Jakarta where they pledged to have one motherland, one nation, and one language: Indonesia.