Indonesian Teachers Empower Students Through Reproductive Health Education

Teaching reproductive health to young people takes skill, creativity, and compassion. In Indonesia, four extraordinary teachers are proving how transformative this education can be. Each has received UNFPA-supported training, helping them integrate reproductive health lessons into everyday teaching.
The training, conducted with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, is supported by Global Affairs Canada through the Better Reproductive Health and Rights for All in Indonesia initiative.

Innovative Teaching for Real Change

Former banker Nurlinawati changed her career to teach children with intellectual disabilities. Unsure at first, she created the cuda (“sister”) doll to teach menstrual hygiene with dignity. Her students, once shy, now confidently discuss their health and manage their hygiene independently.
She believes equal rights include access to reproductive health education. “This learning builds their independence and shapes their future,” she said.
In another school, Siti Muflihah makes learning fun. She replaces awkward lectures with games that encourage open discussion. “Students can talk without embarrassment,” she explained. Despite resistance, she remains firm: reproductive health includes respect, values, and emotional well-being.
Science teacher Lufia Krismiyanti created a mobile app for students to report health concerns privately. “I feel a moral duty to help them stay healthy in every way,” she said.
Finally, Yuliana Yolanda Luhulima, who teaches students with special needs, now talks openly about preventing sexual violence. After supporting a survivor in her class, she said, “Every child has a right to education and safety.”
Together, these teachers show how compassion and innovation can protect students and build a healthier future for all.