A future redefined: Unlocking Putri’s potential
Investing in girls’ empowerment in Indonesia with UNICEF’s Innovation Challenge: Generasi Terampil Programme

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In a small, rented home in Depok, West Java, 17-year-old Putri lives with her mother and three siblings. The modest dwelling they share is a tight fit for the family, and as a single-parent, Putri’s mother works tirelessly, juggling multiple jobs to keep the household afloat. Growing up in this environment, Putri learned the meaning of resilience and determination from a young age.
Putri is one of over 20 million adolescent girls in Indonesia, each with the potential to become a future leader, entrepreneur or advocate – to become powerful changemakers who drive progress in their families, schools and communities.
Putri has always had big dreams. She’s fascinated by the digital world and the possibilities it offers. But her family’s financial struggles meant that access to technology, let alone specialized education, was limited. “I’ve always been interested in computers, but it was difficult to pursue this interest because we didn’t have the resources,” Putri shares.

At home, devices like laptops and smartphones are often shared among family members, making it challenging for Putri to consistently participate in online learning. “If I had my own laptop or smartphone, it would be easier to keep up with my studies and participate fully,” she explains.
"We do the best we can with what we have, but it is not easy when everyone needs the same device at the same time," adds her mother, who raised most of her children on her own.
Putri’s life turned around significantly after she joined UNICEF’s Innovation Challenge: Generasi Terampil skills development programme for adolescents, which opened doors for her to explore her passions in digital entrepreneurship and technology. "This was my first experience with a programme like this. Such opportunities are rarely available to girls like me," she says.
Through the programme, Putri developed valuable entrepreneurship and digital skills. She learned how to create and sell products, such as e-cards, which gave her practical experience in digital entrepreneurship. She also became proficient in using digital tools like PowerPoint. "The programme aligns with my interest and prepared me for a future career. I'm now thinking of pursuing digital entrepreneurship or being a programmer," she says confidently.

The Innovation Challenge: Generasi Terampil programme, supported by UNICEF and its partners, is designed to equip girls like Putri with essential 21st century skills - critical and reflective thinking, problem-solving, creativity, effective communication and team work. These skills are increasingly vital in a world where over 90 per cent of jobs worldwide have a digital component.
Yet, despite this growing demand, around 36 per cent of young women (aged 15–24) in Indonesia are not in education, employment, or training, while the rate for their male counterparts is 16 per cent. This gap is driven by economic and geographical barriers, a lack of family support and female role model and limited access to information for young people about which skills to develop and where to learn them.
Putri’s mother, who has worked hard to support her family despite the odds, fully understands the value of these opportunities for her daughter. “I may not know much about digital businesses, but I want Putri to have the opportunities I never had,” she says. Though she often struggles to provide for the family, she is determined to support Putri’s ambitions, even if they’re in fields she herself doesn’t fully understand.
The programme, which started in 2019, has reached more than 18,000 adolescents and 1,200 teachers through around 800 formal and non-formal education institutions in the DKI Jakarta, Semarang city, and East Java province. Over 60 per cent of the adolescents, teachers, and mentors from private sector industries involved are female.
The skills Putri has gained through the programme have already started to change her life. She has gained more confidence and is embracing the future with an open mind. Her mother has observed the difference too, most especially with Putri's computer skills and the way she relates to people. "She's really blossomed in these areas," her mother remarks proudly.
Recent research finds that investing just $1.53 US per day per girl to achieve universal secondary school completion can help developing economies expand their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by an average of 10 per cent by 2030.[1]
Looking back, Putri explains, “This programme has given me hope and the tools to build a better future. But there are so many girls like me who need this chance.” Putri’s story is a powerful testament to the transformative impact of investing in girls’ education and training in essential 21st century skills.
For every girl whose potential is unlocked, we build a more prosperous and equitable future for everyone. By supporting UNICEF, you’re not just helping one girl—you’re helping to transform lives and communities.