Kulon Progo – Efforts to reduce child marriage continue to gain momentum across Indonesia. Demonstrating its commitment to addressing this issue, the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) organized a four-day community engagement program aimed at developing peer educators who can actively promote child marriage prevention among adolescents.

A total of 48 high school students from several schools in Kulon Progo participated in the training. The program was conducted in two phases at different locations. The first session took place on 22–23 June 2026 at SMA Ma'arif 1 Wates, involving 24 students. The second session was held on 24–25 June 2026 at SMA Ma'arif 1 Nanggulan, with another 24 participants. The training was led by experts from the Faculty of Psychology UNY, including Dr. Siti Rohmah Nurhayati, M.Si., Wresti Wredaningsih, M.Psi., Psychologist, and Dr. Annisa Reginnasari, M.A. In addition, Psychology students served as facilitators and co-facilitators, creating a supportive and engaging learning environment that encouraged open discussions among participants.

The peer educator program was designed based on the understanding that adolescents often feel more comfortable sharing their concerns and seeking advice from friends of the same age. Recognizing the powerful influence of peer relationships, the program equipped participants with knowledge about the social, educational, and psychological consequences of child marriage, while also strengthening their communication, leadership, and peer-support skills. Throughout the training, students engaged in interactive discussions, role-playing activities, and collaborative learning designed to prepare them as youth ambassadors capable of raising awareness and promoting healthy decision-making within their schools and communities.

Through this initiative, the Faculty of Psychology UNY hopes that these young peer educators will become catalysts for change by helping break the cycle of child marriage in Indonesia. More importantly, the program encourages adolescents to support one another, pursue higher education, and build brighter futures based on informed choices and mutual respect. This initiative also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), by promoting adolescent well-being, expanding access to education, preventing harmful practices such as child marriage, and strengthening collaboration between universities, schools, and local communities.