RISE Foundation, in collaboration with Project HOPE and supported by Kimberly-Clark Corporation, officially launched a transformative initiative through the HER Way program, known in Indonesian as SEKAR (SEhat, Kaya PengetAhuan, dan Resilien or Healthy, Knowledgeable, and Resilient). This program is designed to strengthen the empowerment of adolescent girls and young women by integrating a life-cycle approach to ensure their health, well-being, and resilience in various phases of life. As an initial strategic step in the East Java region, RISE Foundation has successfully held a Cross-Sector Kick-Off agenda, which began in Banyuwangi Regency on Monday, January 19, 2026.
This coordination meeting was an important step because it brought together key stakeholders in the Banyuwangi region. The aim was to build a common understanding and strengthen collaboration for harmonious implementation in the field. The event, held at the Aston Banyuwangi Hotel & Convention Center, was attended by representatives from the Health Office, Education Office, and various other related offices. As the organizer, the RISE Foundation views cross-sector support as the main foundation for the success of the program, which is based on three main pillars: youth empowerment, respectful maternity care, and support for new mothers and their families.
During the opening session, the representative of the Banyuwangi Regent, namely the Assistant for Government I and People’s Welfare of Banyuwangi Regency, officially launched the program, which involves the Health Office, Education Office, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, RISE Foundation, and Project HOPE Indonesia Foundation.
This signing symbolized a collective commitment to begin real collaboration in addressing the challenges of adolescent reproductive health and the welfare of mothers and children in Banyuwangi. The HER Way program itself was very well received by the Banyuwangi government and was even seen as vital assistance amid challenges in regional budget efficiency, especially in supporting innovation programs for adolescents and maternal and child health.
In Banyuwangi, the issues of stunting and child marriage are serious concerns that require serious cross-sectoral integrated handling. These findings reinforce the urgency of intervention through the pillars of the SEKAR program, especially in creating safe spaces and access to credible information for adolescent girls so that they have high resilience to social and physical health risks. One thing to be proud of is the enthusiasm of government agencies and schools in Banyuwangi in welcoming this program.
Several schools have revealed that they have implemented Child-Friendly Schools and incorporated this into each school’s rules by providing comfortable facilities and a hotline for mental health and sexual violence prevention. In addition, the local Education Office has optimized the non-formal sector by engaging the Bimasakti community to provide life skills and academic education for young women who have dropped out of school. The RISE Foundation is committed to synergizing the SEKAR program with these local innovations so that its benefits are more widespread and sustainable.
After successfully initiating this step in Banyuwangi, the RISE Foundation will continue this series of coordination efforts in Sidoarjo Regency on January 22, 2026. The next steps have also been mapped out, including collecting priority area mapping data from relevant agencies to determine the locations for implementation in schools and health centers. Through the HER Way or SEKAR program, RISE Foundation believes that by equipping young women with the right knowledge and resilience, we are building the foundation for a healthier and more empowered future for Indonesia.
