Pioneering survey asks 8-12-year-old Indonesians: what's life like?

By Cory Rogers, Communication Officer

© Cory Rogers / UNICEF / 2017

Preadolescents have a lot to say about life.

Take this 11-year-old boy from Indonesian Borneo, or Jenni (pictured below), who lives in Indonesia’s province of West Java. The 10-year-old says being a good friend is something you learn with practice.

 “A good friend should always be there to help you through difficulties,” says Jenni (centre). “Real friends come to your house when you’re sick, and you go to their house when they are.” © Cory Rogers / UNICEF / 2017

#GirlsTakeOver: Adolescents take action to end child marriage

By Fadilla Dwianti, Child Protection Officer

21 adolescents selected from 12 provinces pose for a picture with Deputy of Child Development at Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Lenny N. Rosalin, UNICEF Chief Child Protection Amanda Bissex, and Country Director Plan International Indonesia Myrna Remata-Emora/©UNICEF/Fadilla Putri/2017 

It wasn’t out of the ordinary for Indonesia’s Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection to deliver a speech for International Day of the Girl Child. 

Except that this year, the minister was a 19-year-old girl.

Mainstreaming menstrual health in Makassar

By Andi Bunga Tongeng

A participant in the training explains her approach to mainstreaming MHM in schools © Andi Bung Tongeng / UNICEF/ 2017

Makassar: "Did this game teach you anything you didn’t know before?" Saskia Raishaputri Moestadjab, a UNICEF consultant, asked participants at a Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) training in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

A man named Ilham raised his hand and replied: "Well, now I know there are two kinds of menstrual pads – disposable and reusable."

The room burst into embarrassed laughter: even at this adult training session, it seemed odd to hear a man talk about menstrual pads.