


Youth Cooperative Organization and Its Achievements
- the Youth Co-operative Communication Body (BKPK), which is a youth co-operative organisation underneath the Board of Indonesian Co-operative (Dekopin);
- the Indonesian Youth Co-op (Kopindo’s), which is a secondary youth co-operative in Indonesia;
- the Indonesian Student Co-operative Communication Forum (FKKMI), a network created by the university student co-operatives.
- the Yogyakarta Student Co-op Union (HKMY);
- the Semarang Student Co-operative Association (Akomas);
- the Jakarta Student Co-operative Association (Akukopma); and
- the Bandung Student Co-operative Association (Asbikom).
University Students Co-operatives and The Discourse of Change
We didn’t see the service provided by these co-operative as instruments of democracy or change, but rather as a means of satisfying tangible or consumable needs. Perhaps we didn’t see these co-operatives as a part of something larger, such as a consumer co-operative movement.
The effects of these changes were evident at a recent Seminar and Workshop of Indonesia University Student Co-operative. The forms of university co-operatives represented included:
- university students co-operatives with memberships open only to university students;
- university student co-operatives that still keep the name but open memberships to the community; and
- university students co-operatives that have become open to the public and have changed their names
There are a number of general reasons why co-operatives are not fully meeting the needs of youth in Indonesia.
- Youth do not realize the importance of co-operatives.
- Co-operative organizers do not recognise the importance of youth involvement.
- Co-operatives do not present an attractive image to youth.
- The average education level of co-operative youth is low, and some still have to finish their school.
- Co-operatives do not have the capacity to give youth economic benefits.
In many, membership is still automatic and member interest is low;
- The participation level of members in co-operatives is still low with the average of less than 50%;
- The organizing of resources is difficult and management pattern is not sufficiently professional;
- High dependency upon “landlords”;
- Weak communications with the membership;
- Insufficient management education and training;
- Weak co-operative network;
- Limited direct benefit from membership;
- Lack of sensitivity from the “co-operative elites”;
- The discourse of “Campus Autonomy” is considered by some leaders of the universities as an effort to take away the business opportunities of university student co-operatives; and
- A lack of understanding that university student co-operatives are an important part of universities.
The role of youth in co-operatives still seems small and young people lack influence in the making of key decisions. The co-operative movement in Indonesia needs to formulate a vision that promotes youth involvement and those leading general co-operatives need to be more responsive to the changes that surround them.
I recommend the following changes in order to empower youth in co-operatives:
Develop more effective youth involvement strategies;
- Change the general attitudes towards youth through workshops, seminars, and publications;
- Develop budgetary support for programmes leading to greater youth involvement;
- Develop stronger youth networks at local, national or even international level through the use of facilitators and youth camps;
- Develop workshops to promote youth creativity and employment opportunities based on co-operative entrepreneurship;
- Ensure the continuity of youth programmes in the co-operative movement thereby assuring co-operative development in the future;
- Increase the opportunities for youth empowerment in the Indonesian economy and the co-operative movement; and
- Co-operatives involved in youth empowerment must recognize that they will have to adapt themselves to a rapidly changing environment.

Creator - Author(s) Name and Title(s): Suroto
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