On November 5, 2025, the kick-off event for the HER Way Program (known in Indonesian as SEKAR: Healthy, Knowledgeable, and Resilient), took place at the Grand Sunshine Convention & Resort, Tarwangsa Room, from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. in the Bandung Regency. The Bandung Regency is one of the main locations for the implementation of the HER Way Program, which is a collaboration between Project HOPE Foundation (YPH) and RISE Foundation supported by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, aimed at empowering adolescent girls and young women to navigate life transitions with confidence, adequate knowledge, and access to quality healthcare services.
The meeting was attended by dozens of participants from various government agencies, youth organizations, and development partners, as well as representatives from schools and communities. The presence of stakeholders from the Health Office, Education Office, Karang Taruna, and the GenRe Ambassador demonstrated the importance of cross-sector collaboration for the success of this program.
The event opened with remarks from representatives of the organization. YPH Executive Director Heny Prabaningrum emphasized that HER Way is a strategic effort to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates and improve the welfare of adolescent girls. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the RISE Foundation affirmed their commitment to providing comprehensive sexuality education and ensuring cross-sector collaboration involving the government, schools, and communities. Kimberly-Clark Softex Indonesia expressed its support for adolescent girls’ health, particularly regarding menstruation, so that adolescents can live healthy and confident lives. The event was officially opened by the Head of the Bandung Regency Health Office, who emphasized the importance of women and adolescent girls as community leaders and determinants of the quality of future generations.
In the presentation by the Bandung District Health Office, various challenges were outlined, ranging from high infant mortality rates and adolescent anemia to home births performed by traditional birth attendants. Many pregnant women are still at risk due to young age, closely spaced pregnancies, and lack of postnatal monitoring. Bandung Regency, with an area spanning 31 subdistricts and a population of around 3.8 million, faces geographical challenges that affect access to health services. In addition, suboptimal human resources, availability of equipment, and recording and monitoring systems are issues that need serious attention.
The HER Way program is the answer to these challenges. With four main pillars, this program supports adolescents to become more empowered through education in schools and adolescent health centers; strengthens maternity care that respects women through health worker training and the implementation of Respectful Maternity Care; empowers new mothers and their families through nutrition education and social support; and fosters a supportive environment by strengthening policies, community networks, and public awareness campaigns. Program partners such as Project HOPE and RISE Foundation play strategic roles ranging from healthcare worker training to reproductive health education and menstrual hygiene management for adolescents.
The discussion session brought forward diverse perspectives on the issue of child marriage and the challenges faced by young people in Kabupaten Bandung. Arul, the Head of PSDO Forum Genre, emphasized that “the implementation of Ini Genting has been strongly promoted, and Forum Genre is becoming an educational role model, especially as child marriage remains critical in Pacet and must continue to be voiced across 3T areas.” From the youth organization side, Deni from Karang Taruna explained that “Karang Taruna consistently goes into the field through the lokmas akur group to reach children with disabilities, and within the guidance of 270 villages we also work on 26 PPKS and educate young people through the road to school initiative.”
Youth enthusiasm was also highlighted by Azzanur from Forum Genre, who said, “young people are highly enthusiastic, but the challenge lies in parent youth communication and the widespread influence of pornography that triggers child marriage, while media platforms such as Pisan.id and PIK-R Majalaya help reach thousands of young people.” Meanwhile, Cecep from Karang Taruna Kabupaten Bandung added that “Karang Taruna, as an official organization under Kemensos, is now part of LKD, and through road to school visits to Cilengkrang, Pasir Jambu, Ciwidey, and Rancabali, we simultaneously deliver education on reproductive health and the prevention of child marriage.”
Child marriage remains a challenge, especially in disadvantaged, rural areas, while reproductive health education needs to be expanded to all subjects so that young people receive comprehensive information. Youth Information and Counseling Centers (PIK R) and youth ambassadors are important means of supporting education and empowerment. Cultural conservatism, limited human resources, and the need for data integration are crucial topics of discussion to ensure programs are effective and sustainable.
The results of this meeting emphasize the need for synergy between the government, community organizations, schools, and communities in supporting adolescent girls’ health. With proper implementation, HER Way in Bandung Regency is expected to become a model for cross-sector collaboration, which not only improves maternal and infant health but also empowers adolescent girls as a healthy, knowledgeable, and resilient generation.
