Girls Takeover 2025: AstraZeneca and Plan Indonesia Collaboration Promotes Young Women’s Leadership for Inclusive Health
07 October 2025
Jakarta, 7 October 2025 – AstraZeneca, a global science-led biopharmaceutical company, together with Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia), reaffirmed their commitment to promoting young women’s leadership through the Girls Takeover program. Held annually to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October, this initiative is part of the global #GirlsBelongHere campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the factors driving gender inequality while providing meaningful leadership experiences for young women.
Through the Girls Takeover program, AstraZeneca and Plan Indonesia create space for girls and young women aged 15–24 to take on strategic leadership roles and voice their ideas in developing more inclusive health solutions, particularly in addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Three selected young women were given the opportunity to “take over” leadership positions for a day—as President Director and Business Unit Director of Respiratory, Immunology, Vaccine and Immune Therapies (RIVI) at AstraZeneca, and as Executive Director at Plan Indonesia. Beyond leadership exposure, the participants also took part in a cross-sector discussion forum with the Embassy of Sweden, AstraZeneca, and Plan Indonesia to share their perspectives on NCD prevention and health promotion among youth.
The three selected participants are Nayla (19) from East Jakarta, Diva (17) from South Jakarta, and Salwa (18) from South Jakarta. They are members of the Peer Educator community established by AstraZeneca through its Young Health Programme (YHP) Indonesia, which empowers young people to take an active role in promoting health awareness.
“The opportunity for girls to sit in leadership positions—even for just one day—is a powerful symbol that young women deserve equal space to shape the future. We believe this experience helps build their confidence and encourages the emergence of more just and equitable health solutions,” said Dini Widiastuti, Executive Director of Plan Indonesia.
“Health equality cannot be achieved without gender equality. Through Girls Takeover, we aim to emphasize that young women are an essential part of the solution. Their early representation strengthens health systems, and their voices are crucial in driving innovation in health, climate, and sustainability. We appreciate AstraZeneca’s commitment to youth empowerment, which aligns with Plan Indonesia’s mission to create a more equal and inclusive world.”
Esra Erkomay, President Director of AstraZeneca Indonesia, stated, “At AstraZeneca, we believe that young people are change agents capable of creating meaningful impact for the future of health and national development. The Girls Takeover #GirlsBelongHere collaboration with Plan Indonesia is part of AstraZeneca’s Young Health Programme, which encourages youth to take active roles in managing their health, their environment, and their future. We truly appreciate the passion of the young women who today had the opportunity to experience leadership firsthand at AstraZeneca. This initiative aligns with our commitment to continuously support the empowerment of Indonesia’s young generation in advancing health equity, strengthening system resilience, and creating widespread positive change for communities and the world.”
Meanwhile, Daniel Blockert, Ambassador of Sweden to Indonesia, during his visit to AstraZeneca Indonesia’s office, reaffirmed the Swedish government’s commitment to empowering youth and ensuring their voices are represented in public policy. “We believe youth engagement must be strengthened through cross-sector collaboration. Therefore, we appreciate AstraZeneca and Plan International Indonesia’s efforts through Girls Takeover, which not only inspire young women to lead but also demonstrate how government, private sector, and civil society can work together to advance health equity and inclusive development. We hope initiatives like this continue to grow and create broader positive impact for the global community.”
Diva (17 years old), one of the Girls Takeover #GirlsBelongHere2025 participants, along with finalists Salwa (18 years old) and Nayla (19 years old), has actively channeled her advocacy toward NCD prevention and promoting women’s leadership within her school community. Nayla is passionate about environmental issues, Diva is active in student council and flag-raising team (Paskibra), and Salwa serves as editor-in-chief of her school’s digital magazine.
During the takeover, Salwa shared her experience in championing young women’s leadership in health as part of efforts to promote equal access to health facilities.
“Being part of Girls Takeover gave me firsthand experience in how decisions are made and how cross-sector collaboration can create impact. It’s a valuable lesson that motivates me to keep taking action—not only for myself but also to inspire my peers to care more about health and equality, and to challenge norms and cultures that still limit young women’s opportunities,” Salwa concluded.
