Supporting adolescent boys to lead healthier lives requires an approach that is close to their everyday experiences. It is not enough to provide information or warnings; young people also need safe spaces where they can talk openly, receive support, and build their own motivation to make positive changes.

This approach has been central to Generasi RAW, an initiative focused on strengthening the health and resilience of adolescent boys. Building on the experience and lessons learned from the program, Jalin Foundation is now developing a more targeted intervention to support adolescents who want to quit smoking through smoking cessation counseling services.

To develop this service, Jalin Foundation is partnering with PKBI DKI Jakarta to establish a youth-friendly, accessible, and adolescent-centered smoking cessation counseling model for adolescent boys in Jakarta.

Building on the Generasi RAW Approach

Generasi RAW was developed with the understanding that adolescent boys’ health is closely connected to their social environment, peer relationships, and the challenges they experience in everyday life. The approach therefore positions young people as active participants in the change process, rather than simply recipients of information.

These lessons provide a foundation for developing the smoking cessation service. Instead of focusing solely on warnings or information about the risks of smoking, the service creates space for adolescents to understand their smoking habits, explore their own reasons for quitting, and receive support throughout the process.

Through a more personal and supportive approach, the service aims to help adolescents build intrinsic motivation and make informed decisions to quit smoking in a way that can be sustained over time.

Introducing Peer Counseling

As part of the service, Jalin Foundation and PKBI DKI Jakarta are engaging peer counselors to support adolescent boys aged 13–19 who already smoke or may be at risk of starting to smoke.

Peer counselors serve as trusted peers who can establish closer and more relatable communication with adolescents. Their similar age and communication style can help create a more open environment where young people feel comfortable discussing their experiences, challenges, and efforts to quit smoking.

The counseling service will be available both online and offline, giving adolescents greater flexibility in accessing support based on their needs and circumstances.

Equipping Peer Counselors with the Right Skills

To ensure that counseling is delivered effectively, Jalin Foundation and PKBI DKI Jakarta conducted an intensive four-day training in June 2026 for peer counselors.

The training covered adolescent smoking behaviors, tobacco products and their impacts, nicotine dependence, and the various factors that can influence adolescents to start smoking.

Counselors also strengthened their skills in adolescent-centered communication and counseling, including active listening, building supportive relationships, and providing non-judgmental support. Participants also practiced counseling simulations and learned about service pathways, referral mechanisms, and follow-up procedures.

This capacity building is essential to ensure that counselors not only understand smoking-related issues but can also create a safe, supportive, and relevant service experience for adolescents.

Building a Sustainable Service Model

The development of the service goes beyond counselor training. Jalin Foundation and PKBI DKI Jakarta are also establishing systems to support service quality and sustainability, including counseling modules tailored to adolescent boys, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), structured documentation systems, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) mechanisms.

Peer counselors will also have regular opportunities for reflection and peer learning. These sessions will allow them to share field experiences, identify challenges, exchange good practices, and continuously improve the quality of support provided to adolescents.

Expanding Access Through Schools

To reach more young people, the service will also be introduced through school roadshows. These activities will not only promote healthier, smoke-free lifestyles but also introduce adolescents to available support when they are ready to quit smoking.

By bringing information and services closer to the environments where adolescents spend their time, the initiative aims to ensure that more adolescent boys know that they do not have to navigate the process of quitting smoking alone.

From a Program to a More Targeted Service

The development of this smoking cessation service represents the next step in Jalin Foundation’s efforts to support the health and well-being of adolescent boys through Generasi RAW. Experience and learning from the program have provided a foundation for developing a more targeted response to one of the health challenges faced by adolescents: tobacco use.

Through its partnership with PKBI DKI Jakarta, Jalin Foundation is working to build a smoking cessation service that is youth-friendly, supportive, accessible, and sustainable. Strengthening peer counselors, developing service standards, establishing monitoring and evaluation systems, and expanding access through schools are all part of this effort.

Moving forward, the service is expected to reach more adolescent boys in Jakarta and provide them with the support they need to develop healthier habits. The lessons generated through this initiative can also help inform the continued development and expansion of adolescent-centered smoking cessation services in other parts of Indonesia.