Youth Peer Educator Combat AMR: Indonesian Youth Action in Antimicrobial Resistance’s Stewardship
Knowledge and beliefs about antibiotics continue to shape emerging health behaviours in Indonesia. With support from OUCRU, PAPRA empowered young people to create learning resources to promote responsible antibiotic use among their peers.
Misconceptions about antibiotic use have long been passed down through generations in Indonesia — from believing that antibiotics can treat all illnesses, to using them without prescriptions. These behaviours contribute to the growing global health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Recognising the urgent need for targeted education among young people, PAPRA Indonesia with BRIN (National Research and Innovation Agency), in collaboration with OUCRU Indonesia and Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central Public Hospital (RSCM), initiated an innovative public engagement project to raise awareness about the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and responsible use of antibiotics.
The initiative, Youth Peer Educators Combat AMR, focuses on empowering school-aged youth through creative educational tools and peer-led learning.
This project aims to develop educational material using a short video (1-3 minutes) and comic book (10 pages) as learning materials written in Bahasa Indonesia. These resources will be distributed to schools and social media platforms.
Empowering Students by Building Capacity in Creative Media Production
From 22 August 2025 to 24 November, PAPRA conducts weekly capacity building workshops on basic education on antibiotics, AMR, video and comic creation with in 2 School in Jakarta (SMAN 1 Depok and SMAN 8 Jakarta). Over approximately three months, PAPRA teams in collaboration with two schools, facilitate interactive learning sessions on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The engagement aimed to strengthen students’ understanding of AMR and the responsible use of antibiotics through games, discussions, and visual storytelling. There were in total 20 students and 2 schoolteachers involved in the whole activity. In 13-14 November 2025, PAPRA conducts Engagement to showcase the final students’ comic and video creation.
At the final showcase of SMAN 8 Jakarta, students present the creative projects they developed over three months. Students share the comics and videos they produced on antibiotic use and AMR.
Students themselves recognised the dedication that went into the creative work showcased on the final day. Peer student Jorell Rafi Arsyad Pambudi expressed his admiration after watching his classmates present,
“I saw my friends presenting today on antibiotics and resistance. I was amazed to learn they had been preparing for nearly three months. They gave their full effort—creating comics, educational videos, and even performing a drama that was really engaging.”
“I am really grateful for this opportunity, and it is such a wonderful experience that we could cultivate all information and education, and we can talk about AMR …I hope everyone can feel the benefit from it and they can be more aware about AMR ..”
– Jovani Lenisha Karin (AKSELERASI squad from SMAN 8 Jakarta)
After this activity, I gained many new insights about AMR. Personally, I rarely heard the term AMR around me, but after joining this activity, I learned a lot about AMR itself. I was also happy to see my friends excited about creating their works like videos and comics. They presented the results of their 3-month activities..”
(Intan, one of the peer student audiences during final showcase in SMAN 8 Jakarta)
The project’s final activities brought together students, teachers, and peer educators in a vibrant showcase of what young people can achieve when given space, support, and creative tools.
At SMAN 1 Depok, schoolteacher Budi Ekowati Puspita Ningrum, S.P. reflected on the journey,
“Despite the students’ busy schedules, I watched them during school meetings. They showed great enthusiasm in every capacity-building workshop, enjoyed the refreshments, and—most importantly—completed their work successfully. I am extremely proud of them.”
Teachers across partner schools echoed this sense of shared purpose. Hidayatun Nikmah, S.Pd. from SMAN 8 Jakarta expressed her hopes for the wider impact of the collaboration.
“Thank you for this partnership. I hope we can continue spreading the message about AMR and responsible antibiotic use so more people can benefit.”
Their reflections show the energy, commitment, and creativity that young people bring to learning when they have meaningful opportunities to express themselves. By equipping them with accessible and accurate knowledge, the project helps break long-standing patterns of antibiotic misuse. With this understanding, students are better prepared to make informed decisions about their health — an important step towards addressing the growing public health challenge of AMR in Indonesia.
Discover Creative Work on AMR
Find out more about the video and comics made by youth:
About the Programme Team
Akselerasi team:
Principal investigator: apt. Fitria Nur Hidayah, S.Farm.
Co-PI: apt. Luh Rai Maduretno Asvinigita, M.M.
Researchers: Dr. apt. Dea Anita Ariani Kurniasih, M.Farm., Bunga Astria Paramashanti S.Gz., MPH, PhD
Research assistant: apt. Ris Heskiel Najogi Sitinjak, M.Sc.
Secretary: Rezky Gustin Syuhada, S.Kep., Ners
Facilitators: I Gusti Ngurah Agung Aditya Pramana, S.M., M.M., Nailah Khairunnisa
Akselerasi squad (SMAN 1 Depok):
Supervisor: Budi Ekowati Puspita Ningrum, S.P.
Students: Bilqis Bidhaya, Catherine Jovanka Pasaribu, Maria Chrystien Aritonang, Ratu Fara Jihan, Zaferullah Faidzil Alfa, Taqi Muhammad Javani, Ratu Clara Lamtiurma Sihombing, Muhammad Wicaksono. S, Maritza Aulia Fauziaddinza, Tatianisa Chasya Malika
SMAN 1 Depok : dr. Ardiana Kusumaningrum, Sp.MK(K)
SMAN 8 Jakarta: drh. Gunawan Budi Utomo
About the organiser PAPRA is an interprofessional group initiated by practitioners, academics, and communities across several regions in Indonesia who committed to taking collective, concrete action to control and prevent antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Contact PAPRA PCE Seed Awads.
