Building a Strong Foundation for Early Childhood Protection Through the PERLINA Method in ALIT Surabaya-Bromo
Beyond its rich natural beauty and magnificent cultural heritage, the Bromo region also faces social challenges, including the prevalence of child marriage. According to official reports from the East Java Provincial Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Marriage Management Information System (SIMKAH), a total of 7,590 child marriage cases were recorded in East Java throughout 2025. Of these cases, Pasuruan, which borders the slopes of Mount Bromo, ranked highest, with 986 cases. This situation places children at risk of losing their fundamental rights to grow, learn, and pursue their dreams. In response to this issue, Yayasan ALIT Indonesia has introduced PERLINA (Self-Protection) classes as part of its Early Child Development (ECD) program for children aged 5–7. This initiative serves as a fundamental preventive measure to equip children with an understanding of their rights from an early age.
PERLINA sessions for children aged 5–7 are specifically designed to accommodate their developmental stage, when their thinking remains relatively simple and concrete. Children in this age group generally process information in straightforward, often binary ways, unlike school-age children and adolescents, who are increasingly capable of abstract reasoning. Therefore, self-protection materials are adapted into activities familiar to their everyday lives, such as storytelling, role-play, songs, and simple simulations.
Through a child-friendly approach, the primary goal of PERLINA classes is to help children understand that their bodies are valuable and that their personal boundaries must be respected. The ALIT Surabaya-Bromo team guides children in recognising signs of discomfort, whether they encounter coercion, inappropriate touching, or invitations from strangers.
Tassavira Melatie Kumala, Regional Coordinator of ALIT Surabaya-Bromo, explained that during role-play sessions, children are encouraged to practise three simple responses independently: confidently saying “no,” moving away from unsafe situations, and seeking help from a trusted adult. These simulations are conducted voluntarily and do not involve directly practising inappropriate touching, allowing children to learn how to protect themselves without feeling afraid.
“The activities are voluntary. We do not practise inappropriate touching directly, and children are never forced to share their personal experiences,” Tassavira explained.
The effectiveness of these sessions is also supported by the flexibility of ALIT Surabaya-Bromo facilitators in communicating with children in the field. Since young children need language that is closely connected to their everyday experiences, facilitators use simple Indonesian interspersed with the Tengger language. The selection of storybooks, short films, and scenarios used in role-play activities is tailored to the PERLINA module, which reflects the social and cultural context of communities around Bromo. This approach has proven effective in maintaining children’s enthusiasm, helping them understand the material naturally and apply what they have learned during follow-up comprehension assessments.
One of the greatest challenges faced by Field Officers in the Bromo region is translating abstract self-protection concepts into practical knowledge that matches children’s cognitive development while remaining sensitive to local social and cultural values. “Limited educational backgrounds can sometimes make communication challenging, so using language that is familiar to children is one way to communicate the material effectively,” Tassavira explained. Furthermore, responsibility for protecting children cannot rest entirely on the children themselves. Full support from their families is essential to ensure that children feel safe expressing their opinions without fear of being scolded.
For this reason, ALIT Indonesia also engages parents through parenting forums, group discussions, and activity guide sheets for use at home. Through these educational spaces, parents are encouraged to establish two-way communication, listen to their children’s stories without judgment, and respect their children’s bodily boundaries. Strengthening protection at the family level helps ensure that the self-protection values introduced in PERLINA classes continue to be practised and reinforced through everyday parenting.
Ultimately, growing awareness among children supported by ALIT in Bromo is reflected in fundamental changes, such as increased confidence in speaking up and a greater ability to recognise potentially risky situations. ALIT Indonesia is committed to sustaining the PERLINA program through regular mentoring and continued engagement with community forums. By instilling self-protection values from an early age, the program aims to establish a strong foundation for children in Bromo to exercise greater control over their futures and remain protected from the threat of child marriage.
