The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had huge implications for children’s physical, psychological, and social well-being. UNICEF (2021) reported that 80 million Indonesian children were impacted by COVID-19, with more than 25,000 Indonesian children orphaned. The majority of the children who lost their caregivers (57%) lost a male caregiver and 37% lost a female caregiver, with around 5% losing both caregivers. The pandemic also contributed to an increase in the number of children aged 7–18 who dropped out of school for reasons that included (i) lack of money to pay tuition fees (74%); (ii) no interest in school (12%); (iii) working during the economic crisis (2%); and (iv) other reasons (8%). As a result, many children experience a detrimental impact on their education, growth and development, which can put them at greater risk of neglect, violence, exploitation and poverty.

This study aims to provide a detailed insight into the experiences and views of children and adolescents in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on Kota (City of) Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. The study was conducted with 83 selected children who were between 10 and 17 during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study addresses various research questions, including how children perceived and experienced the COVID-19 situation, the impact of the pandemic on different aspects of their lives, and how they coped with the health crisis and associated measures to contain the pandemic. The study also explores children’s ideas and proposals for responses to the COVID-19 situation and strategies for future preparedness. In doing so, this study seeks to inform policy and develop practical responses for the current crisis and similar mishaps in the future.

Suggested Citation:

SMERU, BAPPENAS and UNICEF (2025) Don’t give up facing all of this, Children’s and adolescents experiences, perceptions, and opinions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia