VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Commemorated every October 28, the Youth Pledge was a major milestone in the Indonesian's history of the independence movement.

This pledge is a crystallization of the spirit to affirm the ideals of the establishment of the Indonesian state.

"Youth Pledge" is the decision of the Second Youth Congress which was held for two days, 27-28 October 1928 in Batavia (Jakarta).
This decision affirms the ideals of an "Indonesian homeland", "Indonesian nation" and "Indonesian language".

This decision becomes the principle for every "association of Indonesian nationalities" and for "to be broadcasted in various newspapers and read before the meetings of the associations".

The term "Youth Pledge" itself did not appear in the congress decision but was given afterward. The idea for holding the Second Youth Congress came from the Indonesian Student Student Association (PPPI), a youth organization with members from all over Indonesia.

On the PPPI initiative, the congress was held in three different buildings and was divided into three meetings.
Here are the meetings:

FIRST MEETING, on Saturday, October 27, 1928, at the Katholieke Jongenlingen Bond (KJB) Building, Banteng Field.

In his remarks, Soegondo hoped that this congress could strengthen the spirit of unity in the hearts of the youth. The event continued with Moehammad Jamin's description of the meaning and relationship of unity with youth. According to him, there are five factors that can strengthen Indonesia's unity, namely history, language, customary law, education, and will.

SECOND MEETING, on Sunday, October 28, 1928, at the Oost-Java Bioscoop Building.

The two speakers, Poernomowoelan and Sarmidi Mangoensarkoro, agreed that children should receive national education, there must also be a balance between education at school and at home. Children also need to be educated in democracy.

THIRD MEETING, at the INDONESISCHE CLUBHUIS KRAMAT BUILDING

In the next session, Soenario explained the importance of nationalism and democracy apart from the scouting movement. Meanwhile, Ramelan argued that they could not separate the scouting movement from the national movement. The scouting movement from an early age educates children to be disciplined and independent, things that are needed in the struggle. Before the congress closed, the song “Indonesia” by Wage Rudolf Supratman was played. They greeted the song with great fanfare.

Then, Congress announced the formulation of the results. The following are the three congress' decisions as listed on the inscription on the wall of the Youth Pledge Museum. The original writing uses the Indonesian language in the van Ophuijsen spelling.

First: We, the sons and daughters of Indonesia, claim to have one blood, Indonesian soil.
Second: We, the sons and daughters of Indonesia, acknowledge one nation, the Indonesian nation.
Third: We, the sons and daughters of Indonesia, acknowledge the language of unity, the Indonesian language. (RRI)