Indonesia is home to a vibrant, diverse youth population that plays a crucial role in shaping the country’s social, economic and political landscape. With a median age of around 29, Indonesia’s youth demographic represents a significant portion of the nation’s population and holds immense potential for driving positive change and innovation.

One of the characteristics of youth in Indonesia is their digital connectivity – young people are connected to others through social media, with three-quarters of the country’s social media users reportedly being under the age of 35. With increasing access to smartphones, social media platforms and digital tools, they are actively engaged in online communities, social activism and entrepreneurship. This digital fluency has empowered young people to voice their opinions, advocate for social justice and contribute to civic engagement efforts concerning climate change.

This research is expected to shed light on the interconnectedness between climate change and the relational wellbeing (RWB) of young people, especially in the Global South. Since interactions and relations among young people, their environment and others may influence their decision-making, it is worth exploring this interaction. The aim is for the project to create a favourable context for youth to adopt pro-climate adaptation measures.

Primarily, the research will address the aspect of redefining RWB among the youth and how this can be used to design strategies for youth-focused climate resilience practices.

This study will be guided by a participatory action research (PAR) approach ensuring active youth involvement throughout the whole process, from inception to the design of interventions. As part of the interventions, the plan is to develop a serious game approach using gamification. This method will help youth participants understand climate change and RWB concepts, acquire new skills and engage with simulated real-world problems.

The study will examine how climate change affects youth wellbeing and how their relationships with peers and the environment shape their responses to climate challenges. It will explore cultural influences on RWB across Jakarta, Denpasar and Semarang. It will then be possible to compare the variations between the three cities and analyse the contextual factors that relate to them.

Over three years, the study will:

1. Redefine RWB among Indonesian youth by assessing their understanding of it and identifying cultural values influencing climate change perceptions
2. Conceptualise relationships between personal, societal and environmental drivers of RWB to strengthen youth resilience and collective action
3. Co-design strategies with youth organisations and stakeholders to foster climate action and advocate for policy recommendations

The research will:

1. Assess youth’s understanding of RWB, both qualitatively and quantitatively

2. Identify key cultural values, norms and relational practices that shape youth perceptions of RWB and their responses to climate change challenges through qualitative participatory methods in Semarang, Denpasar and Jakarta

3. Develop a nuanced understanding of how culture and context intersect with climate-change impacts in shaping youth experiences of RWB, resilience and adaptive capacity. The aim is to conceptualise the relationship between all drivers of RWB and design strategies to enhance RWB to bolster youth resilience and foster collective youth action in climate change adaptation

The researchers, local teams, youth participants and project partners will gather virtually for monthly online meetings to track progress on milestones, reflect on how connections between stakeholders are built and assess engagement levels.

Biannual offline workshops will be held, where all partners and youth participating in the three case studies will gather and have opportunities for cross-site learning and knowledge exchange. These check-ins will also aim to gather collective insights and feedback and insights.

Pre- and post-project evaluation of the youth partners and participants will take place, highlighting their roles as agents of change. During these evaluations, their awareness, engagement and personal growth will be assessed.

Wellbeing and personal growth checks will be conducted on consortium members and the project partners, especially assessing their mental wellbeing (focusing on how the project has positively influenced health and connection), and the impact of the project on the professional development and personal growth of the consortium members.