Stories

In the mountain town of Trenggalek, East Java, 18-year-old Vian dared to dream of a future in technology, a field that few girls in her village had ever ventured. Raised in a family of farmers, Vian had no formal technology education in high school. “I didn’t have a teacher or mentor to guide me,” she reflects. “I relied on YouTube and…

In Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara province, 15-year-old Gita sits cross-legged on the floor of her home, her schoolbooks spread out before her. She studies intently, pen in hand, marking important notes. “I want to be a doctor so I can help myself, my family, and others,” she says. Outside, the sun dips lower. Her father, Sarte, arrives home…

Seven-year-old Melvi is known throughout her neighbourhood in Kupang municipality in the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province as a bright and spirited child. At only four years old, she was diagnosed with severe wasting – the deadliest form of child malnutrition – during a routine check at her school. That early detection was a crucial turning point…, Why Early Detection Matters, Working at the Puskesmas, Yeni sees firsthand the contrast between healthy children and those who are at risk of malnutrition, specifically severe wasting. It troubles her that many parents only seek help when their children are already sick. Children who appear visibly thin may already fall into the category of severe wasting, yet because they…, A Community-Based Solution, UNICEF supported the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education to introduce the PAUD Peduli Wasting  intervention in 2022, as part of a wider initiative to provide Holistic and Integrative Early Childhood Development (HI-ECD) services for young children. Along with training teachers to support the early detection and referral of children at…

On a windy afternoon in Pegunungan Arfak district, West Papua province, five-year-old Gracia waits by the roadside, her school bag resting near her feet, where a cat twirls playfully. From across the street, her teacher Bertha calls out, “Gracia, be careful when you cross the road!” Inside the Sinar Hungku Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre…, three of every five ECD centres in Pegunungan Arfak, operate consistently throughout the school year. Many have intermittent closures due to staffing shortages or weather disruptions. Other schools throughout West Papua face similar challenges. Teacher capacity is a major concern – most educators lack formal training in early childhood pedagogy, making it difficult to deliver effective, interactive…

A healthcare facility should be a sanctuary, a place of healing and safety. Yet, for many children across the province of Central Java, the very buildings meant to protect them harbour a grave public health risk:, a lack of basic water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services.  , According to 2020 Ministry of Health data, one in ten primary healthcare centers (Puskesmas) in Central Java lacks access to water services that meet standard safety protocols. Most Puskesmas have handwashing facilities with soap and running water located either near delivery areas or close to toilets, but not in both locations.   Deep in the…, Puskesmas Sokaraja II, faced a major challenge. Although the taps ran, the water was unsafe. Laboratory tests revealed the supply was contaminated with E. coli and high levels of iron – a danger for a facility providing maternity care and serving thousands of patients, including children.   In 2024 alone, over 8,000 children passed through the doors of Puskesmas…, WASH service improvements using WASH FIT (Water and Sanitation for Health Facility Improvement Tool). , WASH FIT is an assessment tool that helps health facilities improve water, sanitation, hygiene, environmental cleaning services and waste management. UNICEF introduced WASH FIT to Puskesmas in Banyumas and supported some of these centres to make improvements based on the assessment and action plan. This collaboration is made possible with the…, Dr. Cahyanita Sayekti, the Head of Puskesmas Sokaraja II, , affectionately known as Dr. Nita. “The water quality at Puskesmas Sokaraja II has transformed. Our latest laboratory checks show no traces of E. coli. Since we provide maternity services that require absolute hygiene, this is a game-changer.”  The improvements extend beyond clean water. The Puskesmas also received industrial laundry machines,…, Puskesmas Banyumas, faced a different risk:, scarcity of water supply. ,   Housed in a striking cultural heritage building, a former Dutch bank (Banjoemasche Bank) constructed in 1775, the facility is a fixture of local history. It is also a bustling hub, designated as a child-friendly Puskesmas, with visits by over, 9,000 children per year. , “Our primary water source comes from the local private water supply company (PDAM),” explains, Dr. Kuntoro, the Head of Puskesmas Banyumas, . “There were times when the water simply stopped. We had to call PDAM and beg for a tank of water just to keep our operations running.”  Responding to WASH FIT findings, the facility now uses new boreholes – deep wells that draw water from underground sources. This upgrade doubled the health centre’s water reserves. “I feel more secure now,” says…, PERIKSA tool (Perangkat Penilaian Risiko Iklim Sanitasi dan Air Minum), – developed by UNICEF together with Bappenas – Puskesmas can also identify ways to design more climate resilient water and sanitation systems.  This combination was critical for, Puskesmas Baturraden II, . Situated in the shadow of Mount Slamet, the facility is vulnerable to the mountain’s volatile weather. Heavy rains and lightning strikes frequently severed the power grid, plunging the centre into darkness. Blackouts can be catastrophic – particularly for a refrigerator full of temperature-sensitive vaccine and medicine.  “There was a time when…, Head of Puskesmas Baturraden II, Fajar Tri Asih,S.Kep.,Ns.,M.M.,M.Kep. , After the assessment, the Puskesmas identified a solution: harness the energy above them through an 8.5 kWh off-grid hybrid solar system. Capable of powering the clinic for up to 36 hours without sunlight, it ensures the facility remains operational even when the grid fails. “After being installed, we can save on electricity bills up to 30 percent…

Walking carefully between worn-out planks and soft soil, Monika, a cadre for a Community Health Post (Posyandu), has just finished her last visit to a family in Kampung Wawcesaw, Asmat, South Papua. Holding her clipboard tight, with names written all over the paper, she has helped yet another parent register their child. Monika’s daily routine is…

In the coastal city of Pekalongan in Central Java, two adolescent girls are reshaping how their peers think about health. Rara and Hesty are not doctors or nurses, but they are becoming powerful advocates for something life-saving: the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women globally.…

Dressed in her favorite plaid shirt and leaning on her crutches, Yomi greets patients and passersby in the waiting area of Poto Health Center, in Kupang District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Many assume she is waiting for treatment, but she is here for something bigger – to champion inclusion. Yomi was not born with a disability. A life-changing…, NTT Inclusion 2030’ – a long-term vision and rallying call , at building a more inclusive society where, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups , are actively involved in development planning. Yomi knows that inclusion is not about pity. It is about justice and creating space for everyone to thrive with dignity. “NTT Inclusion 2030 is not an empty dream,” she says with a smile. “We are knitting it, thread by thread, with sincere hands and small but sure steps.”

The midday sun blazes over a schoolyard in Aceh. Dust swirls beneath the feet of students sprinting across the yard, their laughter rising together. One student kneels quietly near the school’s well, focused on a bucket of cloudy, brown water. Her name is Jamalidiana, known to her friends as Diana, and she is turning heads. With a simple filter…

Muhammad Fariz Wadji  was in his early years as a social worker when a case left an unforgettable mark — a father who had abused his own daughter was released without facing any charges. For Fariz, it was a painful reminder that violence against children often hides behind family walls.  According to data from the Ministry of Women Empowerment and…

Every day, Susi hops on her motorcycle and winds through the narrow roadways of Margamulya village – a remote, hard-to-reach community tucked between dense jungle and steep hills in Garut West Java. Her purpose is always the same: to immunize as many children as possible. Susi began her work as a midwife in the village over a decade ago. From the…

At 23,, Shafa Syahrani, seems like many young Indonesians –bright, curious and full of dreams. She grew up in Makassar and studied Food and Nutrition at Universitas Negeri Makassar. Shafa was always fascinated by how food shapes health, but the more she learned, the more troubled she became.  “As a child, I never really knew which foods were healthy,” Shafa recalls, “We…, UNICEF and Novo Nordisk, to help prevent the rising burden from childhood obesity’. “I knew that if this campaign was backed by UNICEF, we could reach the right people,” Shafa says. “We could make real change!”  Together with two other young leaders,, Bian, (age 20, from Sukabumi) and, Vanessa, (age 24, from Papua), Shafa became part of the Core Research Team for Fix My Food Indonesia . Their mission was to uncover how unhealthy food is marketed to children and what can be done to stop it.  It wasn’t an easy task. “We didn’t have a guidebook,” Shafa explains. “We had to figure out how to recruit volunteers, gather stories and analyze…, A Youth-Led Investigation,   Shafa and the team designed a creative way to document young people’s food reality. They launched a nationwide “Food Scavenger Hunt”, inviting young people ages 14-24 to share photos and stories about what they saw, ate and were influenced to buy every day.   A total of 223 young Indonesians participated. Using their phones, they captured the…, Research Leads to Advocacy , With support from the East Asia and Pacific Regional Office and UNICEF Indonesia’s Country Office, the young researchers turned their findings into advocacy. Every week, UNICEF mentors provided guidance to overcome challenges, boost their spirit and celebrate wins. Then came the big moment.   On July 10, 2025, Shafa stood before representatives…, Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases at Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, echoed her call, emphasizing the urgency to protect children and adolescents from unhealthy food marketing, such as “buy one, get one free” deals.  She acknowledged that children are highly vulnerable to persuasive marketing strategies and stressed the need for government, civil society and private sector to work together to make healthier food…, The Road Ahead , For Shafa, this is just the beginning. The momentum is building. With continued youth engagement, cross-sectoral collaboration and partnerships with government, civil society and the private sector, she is convinced that creating healthier food environments is possible.   “It breaks my heart that something so basic, what we eat, can decide whether…