Prienta, a Double Degree student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MPWK) program at Universitas Gadjah Mada, was selected as one of the delegates for the Youth Townhall Road to Y20 Indonesia 2025, held on August 2, 2025, at the Jakarta Library Hall, Taman Ismail Marzuki. This event is part of the Road to Y20 Summit series, which will take place in South Africa, and serves as an important forum to gather the voices of Indonesian youth before being brought to the global stage.
The Youth Townhall was initiated by Indonesian Youth Diplomacy (IYD), a non-profit youth organization in which Prienta is actively involved. IYD is the official body tasked with selecting and facilitating Indonesian youth participation in the Y20 Summit—the official Youth Engagement Group of the G20 Leaders Summit as well as serving as the Youth Focal Point for the G20 Sherpa of the Republic of Indonesia. Prienta’s motivation to join the event stemmed from its purpose: to capture the voices of young people through focused group discussions and consultation forums, which are then summarized into a communiqué and presented at the Y20 Summit in South Africa. “It is very clear that this activity literally and directly brings grassroots youth voices to the international level,” she remarked.
During the Youth Townhall, Prienta proposed a complementary policy linking gender mainstreaming with relevant infrastructure and facilities. She emphasized that gender mainstreaming policies aimed at increasing women’s participation in the workforce should be supported by physical facilities. For example, the provision of daycare centers in workplaces, lactation rooms at strategic points, and women-friendly toilets, including for women working in field-based sectors.
She highlighted the situation of female workers in oil palm plantations in East Kalimantan, who often face difficulties accessing basic facilities such as toilets. This limitation has significantly reduced employment opportunities for women, leaving the workforce largely dominated by men. She also stressed the need for daycare stations near work areas to support working mothers.
Prienta’s topic aligns with her thesis research, which explores the impact of spatial inequality—such as levels of urbanization—on women’s labor force participation. Her academic interest in gender equality and community-based planning has driven her to take an active role in this forum. She believes that the participatory approach in the Youth Townhall demonstrates that global policy planning can still incorporate grassroots voices, including those from marginalized communities.
The proposals she presented are closely linked to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
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First, the idea of women-friendly facilities aligns with SDG 5: Gender Equality, which stresses the importance of equal access and opportunities for women.
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Second, her advocacy for more inclusive workplaces is tied to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, as adequate facilities would enable more women to participate actively in the workforce, contributing to fair economic growth.
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Third, her vision of urban planning that incorporates women-friendly public facilities supports SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, focusing on inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban development.
Prienta’s involvement in the Youth Townhall Road to Y20 2025 is a testament to the meaningful contributions of MPWK UGM students in global conversations on equality and sustainability. By bringing forward perspectives on planning and gender justice to the international forum, she exemplifies that youth are not merely recipients of policies, but also key actors in shaping a more inclusive future for development.
