Ayu Juwita from North Sumatra was among a group of teenagers who participated in the Sehari Jadi Menteri (Minister for a Day) program to commemorate International Day of the Girl on Oct. 11
For one day, Ayu had the opportunity to take on the role of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Susana Yembise, leading her friends and program participants in discussing women’s issues.
According to Antara news agency, the program involved 21 teenage girls from across the archipelago who had gone through a selection process conducted by the ministry and UNICEF Indonesia.
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The organization's representative, Lauren Rumble, referred to the youths of today as our future leaders, while addressing child marriage as one of the most urgent issues in Indonesia.
She further explained in a press release that child marriage could end a girl’s education, damage her health and put her at risk of violence.
Prior to the program, the participants received leadership training and information about the ministry, children’s rights and gender equality, with the hopes that they can become agents of change in their respective hometowns and help prevent child marriage. (jes/kes)