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Read our latest stories about children in Indonesia

A young boy playing an instrument in school.
UNICEF Indonesia/2018/Noorani
Stories: 142 results
Article
03 October 2024

A Mother Challenges Traditions to Change Diets for Children

Changing deep-rooted habits is never easy, especially when they are traditions passed down through generations. But for 35-year-old Zhagraf Maulida, known as Aaf, challenging unhealthy practices that affect the health and future of her children – along with those in her entire community – is worth the effort. A mo...
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Related topics:
Nutrition
Infant and young child nutrition
Indonesia
Central Java
Article
03 October 2024

A Mother Challenges Traditions to Change Diets for Children

Changing deep-rooted habits is never easy, especially when they are traditions passed down through generations. But for 35-year-old Zhagraf Maulida, known as Aaf, challenging unhealthy practices that affect the health and future of her children – along with those in her entire community – is worth the effort. A mother of three from Semarang,…

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Article
17 September 2024

Leaving No Child Behind: Bayu Leads the Way for Inclusivity

From the day he came into the world, Bayu has been breaking through barriers. The 25-year-old, who hails from Simeulue Island in Aceh Province, was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects his movements and posture. Yet, Bayu refused to let this define him. Thanks to the unwavering support of his parents...
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Related topics:
Disability rights
Disabilities
Children with disabilities
Adolescent and youth participation
Indonesia
Aceh
Article
17 September 2024

Leaving No Child Behind: Bayu Leads the Way for Inclusivity

From the day he came into the world, Bayu has been breaking through barriers. The 25-year-old, who hails from Simeulue Island in Aceh Province, was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects his movements and posture. Yet, Bayu refused to let this define him. Thanks to the unwavering support of his parents, Bayu grew up believing that his…

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Article
11 September 2024

A Midwife’s Mission: Saving Lives in West Lombok

At Patut Patuh Patju Hospital in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province, a profound transformation is underway. Health workers are not just treating patients, they are reshaping the future of health care for mothers and children. At the forefront of this change is Ibu Desak, a midwife who has dedicated nearly 30 years ...
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Related topics:
Health
Maternal health
Newborn health
Indonesia
West Nusa Tenggara
Article
11 September 2024

A Midwife’s Mission: Saving Lives in West Lombok

At Patut Patuh Patju Hospital in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province, a profound transformation is underway. Health workers are not just treating patients, they are reshaping the future of health care for mothers and children. At the forefront of this change is Ibu Desak, a midwife who has dedicated nearly 30 years to this profession. Desak’s…

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Article
30 August 2024

A Lifesaving Legacy for Children in East Nusa Tenggara

For nearly three decades, Petroni Labantuan, fondly known as Midwife Inche, has been a cherished presence at the Niki-Niki Community Health Center in Timor Tengah Selatan Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Born and raised in Amanuban Tengah District, Ince has an unshakeable commitment to her community. “This is my life'...
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Related topics:
Maternal health
Newborn health
Indonesia
East Nusa Tenggara
Article
30 August 2024

A Lifesaving Legacy for Children in East Nusa Tenggara

For nearly three decades, Petroni Labantuan, fondly known as Midwife Inche, has been a cherished presence at the Niki-Niki Community Health Center in Timor Tengah Selatan Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Born and raised in Amanuban Tengah District, Ince has an unshakeable commitment to her community. “This is my life's calling,” she says. "Through the…

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Article
26 August 2024

New Hope for Newborns in East Lombok

Imagine being a pregnant woman about to give birth, only to be referred to a health facility known for its lack of clean water? This was the reality for Mardiana, a 33-year-old mother from East Lombok in the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province, when she delivered her seco...
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Related topics:
Maternal health
Indonesia
West Nusa Tenggara
Article
26 August 2024

New Hope for Newborns in East Lombok

Imagine being a pregnant woman about to give birth, only to be referred to a health facility known for its lack of clean water? This was the reality for Mardiana, a 33-year-old mother from East Lombok in the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province, when she delivered her second child at Puskesmas Sakra. Mardiana vividly remembers her fear and anxiety…

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Article
26 August 2024

Dignity for Children with Disabilities: Making Toilets Safe at Home

Fourteen-year-old Febi, who has multiple disabilities, used to start each day with a daunting challenge. To reach the toilet – located behind her home in Lamahoda village on Adonara Island in East Flores – Febi had to navigate through sand, rocks and uneven ground, risking injury. Her aging parents, who took turns...
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Related topics:
Water, sanitation and hygiene
Indonesia
East Nusa Tenggara
Article
26 August 2024

Dignity for Children with Disabilities: Making Toilets Safe at Home

Fourteen-year-old Febi, who has multiple disabilities, used to start each day with a daunting challenge. To reach the toilet – located behind her home in Lamahoda village on Adonara Island in East Flores – Febi had to navigate through sand, rocks and uneven ground, risking injury. Her aging parents, who took turns helping her, feared that Febi…

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Article
23 August 2024

A Blueprint to Get Children Back to School in Indonesia

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia faced an unprecedented crisis. Widespread learning loss and economic hardship left many children with little choice but to leave school. Sixteen-year-old Sava, from a small village in East Java, was one of them. The financial burden of school fees, books, and supplie...
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Related topics:
Education
Indonesia
East Java
Article
23 August 2024

A Blueprint to Get Children Back to School in Indonesia

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia faced an unprecedented crisis. Widespread learning loss and economic hardship left many children with little choice but to leave school. Sixteen-year-old Sava, from a small village in East Java, was one of them. The financial burden of school fees, books, and supplies became too heavy for her family…

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Article
13 June 2024

From Challenges to Changemakers: Young Catalysts for Better Health

Seventeen-year-old Anton* (name changed), is navigating a life he never imagined in a Special Children's Development Institute (LPKA) in Aceh province. Being separated from his family has taken a toll on Anton’s mental health, leaving him anxious and emotionally fragile. Wildan, 11, and his friends singing at SLB ...
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Related topics:
Adolescent health and development
Indonesia
Aceh
Article
13 June 2024

From Challenges to Changemakers: Young Catalysts for Better Health

Seventeen-year-old Anton* (name changed), is navigating a life he never imagined in a Special Children's Development Institute (LPKA) in Aceh province. Being separated from his family has taken a toll on Anton’s mental health, leaving him anxious and emotionally fragile. Wildan, 11, and his friends singing at SLB YPPC Banda Aceh, 22 February 2024…

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Article
24 May 2024

Bridging the Sanitation Gap with Innovative Digital Solutions

In the village of Wonorejo in Lumajang, East Java, Hanifah, a mother of three, remembers the daily struggles her family faced due to the lack of proper sanitation facilities. "We had no toilet at home," she recalls. "Defecation had to be done in the rice fields, even at night, using a flashlight. It was dangerous,...
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Related topics:
Water, sanitation and hygiene
Indonesia
East Java
Article
24 May 2024

Bridging the Sanitation Gap with Innovative Digital Solutions

In the village of Wonorejo in Lumajang, East Java, Hanifah, a mother of three, remembers the daily struggles her family faced due to the lack of proper sanitation facilities. "We had no toilet at home," she recalls. "Defecation had to be done in the rice fields, even at night, using a flashlight. It was dangerous, especially during the rainy…

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Article
03 May 2024

Islamic Boarding Schools in Aceh Combat Violence with Compassion

In Aceh, where Islamic values are deeply ingrained in daily life, many parents entrust their children to Islamic boarding schools (called ‘Dayah’ in Aceh), hoping for faith-based education in a peaceful environment.  Yet, these revered institutions are contending with pervasive violence, including bullying an...
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Related topics:
Child protection
Indonesia
Aceh
Article
03 May 2024

Islamic Boarding Schools in Aceh Combat Violence with Compassion

In Aceh, where Islamic values are deeply ingrained in daily life, many parents entrust their children to Islamic boarding schools (called ‘Dayah’ in Aceh), hoping for faith-based education in a peaceful environment.  Yet, these revered institutions are contending with pervasive violence, including bullying and violent discipline.   Farida Hanum or…

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Article
29 April 2024

Transforming young lives in rural Papua

Twelve-year-old Yomi Puhiri, who hails from Jayapura, Papua, was a high achiever who excelled at the top of her class, until the pressure of economic hardship forced her to drop out of elementary school. Yomi’s father lost his job during COVID-19, which was a serious blow for the family. Yomi had to help her mothe...
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Related topics:
Adolescent and youth participation
Adolescents
Indonesia
Papua
Article
29 April 2024

Transforming young lives in rural Papua

Twelve-year-old Yomi Puhiri, who hails from Jayapura, Papua, was a high achiever who excelled at the top of her class, until the pressure of economic hardship forced her to drop out of elementary school. Yomi’s father lost his job during COVID-19, which was a serious blow for the family. Yomi had to help her mother sell pinang (areca nut) in a…

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Article
26 April 2024

A leap forward in neonatal care

Despite Indonesia’s notable 64.1 per cent reduction in neonatal mortality since 1990, the country still faces challenges, particularly in managing critically ill infants. With a neonatal mortality rate lower than 15 per 1,000 live births in 2021 – approximately 50,000 neonatal deaths 1   – the nation is striv...
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Related topics:
Health
Newborn health
Indonesia
Jakarta
Article
26 April 2024

A leap forward in neonatal care

Despite Indonesia’s notable 64.1 per cent reduction in neonatal mortality since 1990, the country still faces challenges, particularly in managing critically ill infants. With a neonatal mortality rate lower than 15 per 1,000 live births in 2021 – approximately 50,000 neonatal deaths 1   – the nation is striving to ensure that around 230,000…

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