RISE Foundation organized an offline training for teachers and Health Heroes Facilitators (HHF) of the HER Way or SEKAR (Healthy, Knowledgeable, and Resilient) Program in Bandung Regency as a real step to strengthen the empowerment of young women through a life cycle approach. A total of 19 HHFs and 16 teacher representatives from Bandung Regency participated in an intensive two-day training on January 12-13, 2026, at the Sutan Raja Hotel & Convention, Soreang.

This activity was part of a series follow-up training for HER Way Health Heroes Facilitators and Teachers, after the participants had previously been equipped through online training in December 2025. This offline training was an important foundation for facilitators to not only understand the substantive material, but also to increase their capacity in strengthening values, attitudes, and courage to be friendly and caring towards adolescents.

Through strategic sessions such as Value Clarification and Comfort Continuum, participants were encouraged to be honest with themselves, be reflective, and understand that each individual has different perspectives and value backgrounds related to reproductive health issues. This knowledge is fundamental for them to be able to create a safe space when accompanying adolescents in school and community environments.

The RISE Foundation emphasizes the importance of collaboration between the role of teachers as institutional facilitators and young people through HHF. Participants are equipped with in-depth knowledge of Menstrual Hygiene Management, Sexual and Reproductive Health Education (PKSR), and vital skills in maintaining mental health and Social Emotional Learning (SEL). A highlight of the training was the peer teaching session, which served as a space for participants to share energy, stories, and enthusiasm with one other.

Through this session, HHF directly practiced the role of facilitators using the “About Us: Be Brave and Take Action” module from the Indonesian Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection. Enthusiasm and confidence radiated strongly as they simulated various topics, ranging from recognizing personal boundaries, dealing with puberty, to preventing bullying and gender-based violence.

In addition, the teacher peer teaching session used references from the Reproductive Health module compiled by the Indonesian Ministry of Health and the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, where each teacher was required to integrate the module topics with the learning plans of their respective subjects. The RISE Foundation positioned itself as a driving force to ensure that this learning process was participatory.

The facilitators in this training emphasized that the role of educators is not merely to give one-way lectures, but also to guide the learning process together, connect the experiences of adolescents with new knowledge, and initiate active discussions. Participants were also invited to map out potential local activities, communities, and organizations to collaborate with and support the sustainability of the program in the field.

This training also served as a strategic forum for mapping schools and communities in Bandung Regency to ensure that subsequent actions are on target. From the results of the HHF group discussions, several priority schools have been identified for the implementation of socialization, including SMKN 2 Baleendah, SMA Telkom Bandung, SMPN 1 Margaasih, and SMA Plus Islam Pacet.

Armed with a jointly developed action plan, the Health Heroes Facilitators are now ready to move on to the implementation stage through the Health Heroes Goes to School and Goes to Community programs, which will run from February to April 2026. The follow-up plan has also been developed in collaboration with teachers in the Bandung Regency, particularly regarding webinar preparations and monitoring strategies for implementation in schools, including educational efforts for students and peer-to-peer initiatives with fellow teachers.

Through the HER Way program, a collaboration between RISE Foundation, Project HOPE, and supported by Kimberly-Clark Corporation, RISE Foundation is committed to continuing to open more spaces for young women and young people to discover their strengths. We believe that real change will be felt when young women and young mothers speak up, take action, and make an impact on their communities.

This offline training has opened up comprehensive collaboration between local governments, schools, health workers, and youth communities in Bandung Regency on an ongoing basis. Stay tuned for more stories, collaborations, and real actions from our facilitators as they find their way in HER Way to create a healthy, knowledgeable, and resilient generation.