Through the Lense of Bongas Youth
OVERVIEW
2024-2025
Bongas, a sub-district in Indramayu Regency, is one of the agricultural centers in West Java. Agriculture serves as the main livelihood of its people, driving the local economy, education, health, and community welfare. However, Bongas Sub-district is also known as one of the largest contributors of Indonesian Migrant Workers (TKI/PMI) and is vulnerable to human trafficking cases. And all of this is exacerbated by and interconnected to the lack of information about reproductive health.
Since 2015, the Kusuma Bongas Foundation, working together with its main partner, the Kusuma Buana Foundation, and sub-district-level stakeholders in Bongas has been implementing programs to raise awareness and understanding of adolescent sexual and reproductive health through schools, communities, and existing youth organizations (such as peer groups, PIK-R (Youth and Counseling Information Center), and informal youth organizations).
Through the Photovoices program, implemented in 2024 by the Kusuma Buana Foundation and the Kusuma Bongas Foundation, young people aged 14 to 24 are breaking the silence on issues often left unspoken—high-risk behaviors, including underage and unprotected sexual activity, child marriage, access to education, and environmental concerns. Photovoices International has provided intensive training and mentoring on the Photovoice method to trainers and facilitators from the Kusuma Buana Foundation, who then trained Bongas youths during the project implementation.
The youth learned how to use photography and storytelling as powerful tools for advocacy. By capturing their realities from their own perspective, they brought community challenges into focus and shared them with local stakeholders. The Photovoices exhibition became a milestone—amplifying youth voices and encouraging inclusive, responsive action on pressing local issues.
3
main group issues
16
youth participant
(12 boys, 4 girls)
16
photo stories
were exhibited
258
indirect community members
GALLERY
HIGHLIGHTS
Increased knowledge and skills
One of the program’s main achievements was the improvement of youth participants’ technical skills, such as photography, observation, and interviewing. They also showed a significant boost in self-confidence and a greater ability to voice their opinions openly.
Through this program, the youth participants learned that photos can serve as a powerful tool to express ideas, experiences, and aspirations. They also gained hands-on experience in conducting field observations and interviews, which enhanced their social awareness while strengthening their communication and critical thinking skills. Young people who previously may not have recognized the complexity of issues around them—such as high-risk behaviors, including underage and unprotected sexual activity, child marriage, access to education, and environmental concerns—began to understand that they have both roles and responsibilities as active members of their community.
Two Different Groups of Participants
The participants consisted of 8 representatives of school students and 8 youths from local community groups with 4 girls and 12 boys, aged 14 to 24. Student participants were recommended by teachers from YKBongas partner schools, while community youths were obtained through recommendations from community leaders such as XTC, Brigess, Pemuda Anshor NU, YKBongas PE alumni, and the allied community.
Differences in background prompted the facilitators to apply varied approaches during the Photovoices training process. Guided by the principles of inclusivity and safety, issues were discussed in small groups—an approach that proved effective. In these smaller settings, youth participants were able to focus more on the discussion and felt freer to voice their opinions. The results of these group discussions were then shared in a larger forum to broaden perspectives and strengthen solidarity among groups. This space has grown into a collaborative learning platform that supports the sustainability of the program.
Three Main Groups of Issues
The issue identification process within the Photovoices facilitated learning method led participants to focus on three main issues: waste management—particularly illegal garbage disposal near rice fields; adolescent problems among youth such as smoking, underage alcohol consumption, bullying, and brawls; and reproductive health among youth, which raised concerns about child marriage, HIV/AIDS, and the importance of reproductive health programs in schools.
Photo Exhibition
A total of 16 photos and stories (one from each participant) were showcased in the Photovoices Exhibition, "Bongas Youth: Speaking Up Through Photos", held on 25 February 2025 at the Hall of Sidamulya Village Office. The event was attended by 90 invited guests representing various stakeholders at both sub-district and district levels.
Representatives from several agencies—including the Environmental Agency, Health Agency, Education Agency, Commission 3 of the District Parliament—as well as community organizations such as Genre and Youth Ambassadors, expressed their commitment to responding to and following up on the aspirations voiced by the youth participants during the photo presentation. These contributions could serve as the basis for improving local policies on these social issues.
©Yudha Bhismaya/Dok.PVI/Bongas/202
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
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Audience with the Regent of Indramayu. After the exhibition, YK Bongas had the opportunity to meet with the Regent of Indramayu Regency, together with the Selendang Puan Foundation and several other local NGOs. YK Bongas advocated for the importance of the Photovoices method and presented the outcomes of the photo exhibition held in Bongas Sub-district. The meeting resulted in five joint commitments: drafting a Regent Regulation on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI), expanding access to Youth Integrated Health Post services, strengthening reproductive health education in schools, promoting community-based waste management, and impoving access to clean water services.
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Advocacy on waste management issues with the Bongas Sub-district Government: Eight villages have established temporary waste collection sites through collaboration with the Environmental Agency, accompanied by community education, enforcement measures, and capacity-building initiatives.
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Advocacy on reproductive health and alcohol consumption issues: Photovoices participants from Bongas State Junior High School 1 (SMP Negeri 1 Bongas) showcased their photographs and presented the stories behind them during the P5 PKRS (Strengthening Pancasila Student Profile Project and Reproductive Health Education) exhibition and PKRS Ambassador selection event, attended by 40 students. The activity aimed to strengthen understanding, creativity, and the active role of youth in disseminating educational messages within schools and communities.
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Advocacy on youth violence and gang fights: Advocacy efforts led to the procurement and installation of CCTV cameras at identified hotspots by the village governments of Cipedang and Sidamulya to prevent youth violence and improve community safety.
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The Photovoices program has served as a catalyst for strengthening cross-sector collaboration in HIV/AIDS prevention and inclusive healthcare services, working in partnership with the District Health Office.
"Photovoices didn’t just teach me to take photos or write captions—it opened my awareness. It made me care more deeply. Now, I don’t just observe—I feel, I speak, and I invite others to look closely too. All starting from a simple act: click, reflect, and share."
Najmudin Khoerul Amal, 23 tahun,
Photovoices Bongas Program participant
