Guardian Indonesia and Human Initiative Build Access to Clean Water and Healthy Sanitation for 12 Schools

Jakarta, July 15, 2025 – Guardian Indonesia, in collaboration with Human Initiative and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, launched the Guardiancares 2025 program, a social initiative aimed at strengthening access to clean water and sanitation facilities in schools. This year, the program will reach 12 schools in the Banten, Yogyakarta, and East Java regions.

Through this program, Guardian will build wells and renovate basic sanitation facilities at schools in need, while also educating students on the importance of Clean and Healthy Behavior (PHBS). The program will run from July to November 2025 and will involve various parties, including volunteers, local communities, and school representatives.

According to the Ministry of Health data from 2022, more than 293,000 schools in Indonesia still lack adequate access to drinking water and sanitation. This situation makes school-age children the most vulnerable group to infectious diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, bird flu, and H1N1. According to the World Bank research, washing hands with soap can prevent up to 40% of diarrhea cases. When combined with other hygienic behaviors, prevention rates can reach 80–90%.

Malvin Tarigan, Head of Marketing at Guardian Indonesia, stated that Guardiancares is not just about building facilities, but also about instilling clean living habits from an early age. “We believe that access to proper sanitation and PHBS education is the foundation for creating a healthier, stronger, and more productive generation of Indonesians,” he said.

Meanwhile, President of Human Initiative, Tomy Hendrajati, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in addressing the basic health challenges faced by children in remote areas. “We deeply appreciate the concern of Guardian Indonesia, especially for the children in areas that are in dire need. We ensure that this program is carried out in a participatory manner so that its benefits are truly felt by the community,” he stated.

The Guardiancares program also received support from the government. Ir. Dina Agoes Soelistijani, M.Kes, Director of Health Promotion and Community Empowerment at the Ministry of Health, stated that this initiative aligns with the government’s efforts to improve sanitation quality in schools. “Collaborations like this are essential so that more Indonesian children can grow into a healthy, productive generation, aware of the importance of maintaining cleanliness from an early age,” she said.

Guardiancares has been a regular program for Guardian since 2022 and, over the past three years, has distributed more than 50,000 hygiene products across various regions. This year, the public is also invited to contribute through the purchase of soap products in all Guardian stores, where customers can add a donation of IDR 1,000 to support the sustainability of the program.

With the synergy between the private sector, government, and society, Guardiancares has become a tangible example of how simple actions can have a significant impact on the future of Indonesia’s children.

Human Initiative Team