RISE Foundation, in collaboration with Royal Ambarrukmo, hosted an engaging Interactive Talkshow on Sunday, August 27, 2023, as part of the International Youth Day 2023 celebrations. This event focused on the theme, “Green Skills in Youth Movements for Local Food Security.”
The program kicked off with a talk on Mindful Eating and Healthy Lifestyles, featuring speakers Byan Mandala, a traveler and advocate for MyndfulAct, and Tio Andito, a healthy lifestyle influencer. The session was moderated by Anisa Qoni’ Azizah. Beyond the talk, the event also featured a live cooking demonstration by Chef Kholibin from Hotel Royal Ambarrukmo, who prepared two dishes using local ingredients: tofu and tempeh satay, and Balinese lawar.
Mr. Herman Courbois, General Manager of Royal Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta, expressed his enthusiasm for the interactive talkshow with young people, emphasizing that today’s youth will shape our future. He highlighted the importance of such events as platforms for young people to learn together and drive positive change while the opportunity exists.
This sentiment was echoed by Artin Wuriyani, Executive Director of the RISE Foundation, during her opening remarks. She stated, “RISE Foundation, or Remaja Indonesia Sehat, is deeply committed to meeting the needs of youth. It’s crucial to provide comprehensive education on health, not just mental health issues but holistic health as well. Today, we will discuss not only the impact of what we eat on our health but also our contributions to the environment. We will also reintroduce plant-based or local food ingredients that you may already be familiar with.”
During the talk show, Byan shared his experiences of living mindfully and his efforts to escape toxic environments. He advised the audience to “Be mindful, be cautious in choosing what you try. There’s a saying that many things need to be ‘unlearned’ for a healthier life. For example, if we’re on autopilot when eating instant noodles, that habit needs to be ‘unlearned.’ In my view, we must resist the momentum of unhealthy habits. If something is unhealthy, don’t continue it.”
Echoing Byan’s advice, Tio, who is embracing a healthy lifestyle amid his busy schedule, added, “Don’t wait until you’re ill to realize the importance of healthy living. It’s a lesson for me too, but those experiences teach us invaluable lessons. We need to pace ourselves, not just because we’re young.”
In closing, Artin emphasized to the youth audience that “You have the right to make decisions about your body and your life. Don’t just follow trends. There are plenty of local salad options like lotek, gado-gado, ketoprak, and more.”
The interactive talkshow attracted young people aged 18-24, aiming to inspire them to start incorporating Green Skills into their daily lives. Through this event, the RISE Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to providing safe and comfortable spaces for young people to gain experience and engage in meaningful discussions as they become the nation’s future leaders.
