Welcoming the future: Highlights from the first WFF Indonesia Youth Chapter onboarding meeting

The WFF Indonesia Youth Chapter successfully hosted the first onboarding meeting aimed at welcoming new officials into the organization. This event served as an inspiring and engaging introduction to the WFF Indonesia Youth Chapter community, highlighting the essential role that youth play in transforming agrifood systems in Indonesia.

The virtual meeting facilitated seamless collaboration among officials from different divisions, enabling them to connect and work together on initiatives supporting sustainable agrifood systems. The agenda was carefully curated to ensure an enriching experience for all participants.

The onboarding opened with a warm welcome and opening speeches that set an enthusiastic tone for the evening. Eva Pastora, the former National Communication Specialist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Indonesia, addressed the new officials. In her speech, she emphasized the vital role of youth in the transformation of agrifood systems and congratulated all present for their commitment to this important cause. She reaffirmed FAO's support for the journey ahead, encouraging attendees to embrace the challenges and opportunities they would encounter.

Following Eva's address, Clara Citra, the Director of WFF Indonesia Chapter, took the stage to extend her heartfelt gratitude to the new officials for their dedication to shaping the future of the chapter. Clara introduced key roles within the organization, including directors and staff, and shared the chapter’s vision of fostering innovation and creating impactful solutions for a sustainable food system in Indonesia. Her remarks highlighted the importance of collaboration and the collective efforts needed to drive positive change in the agrifood sector.

To foster a sense of community among participants, the meeting included an icebreaker challenge designed to encourage interaction. This engaging activity allowed attendees to connect on a personal level, laying the foundation for future collaboration.

The agenda then progressed to a comprehensive exploration of the chapter’s core values. The vision articulated the goal of establishing the chapter as a dynamic platform that fosters collaboration and growth among diverse youth stakeholders, driving efforts towards sustainable agrifood systems in Indonesia. The mission focused on increasing youth participation in the agrifood sector through various initiatives, such as the regeneration of young farmers and the creation of an inclusive national umbrella platform for open-dialogue discussions aligned with the WFF’s annual theme.

Participants then broke into smaller groups for engaging discussions, allowing for a more intimate setting to share ideas and strategies. These breakout sessions provided an opportunity for attendees to brainstorm on key topics related to youth involvement in agrifood systems, exploring innovative solutions to common challenges and identifying actionable steps for future initiatives.

The meeting ended with a recap of the key takeaways and outlining the next steps for participants, leaving them motivated to advance and contribute to the chapter’s mission.

This onboarding meeting marked an exciting beginning for new officials of the chapter and established a collaborative framework for addressing the challenges and opportunities within Indonesia’s agrifood systems. The event underscored the importance of youth engagement and set the stage for future initiatives aimed at creating a more sustainable and inclusive food future in Indonesia.