Jakarta Marathon Fuels Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities

Charity Run Aims to Spark Social Change and Support Families

Over 1,300 individuals united at Epiwalk Lifestyle, Jakarta, on July 13 for the Run for Equality 2025. This charity event champions physical activity and advocates for a more equitable and inclusive Indonesia, particularly for persons with disabilities.

Building Stronger, Inclusive Families

Under the banner “Building Strong Families Through Sports and Play,” the run highlighted the critical role of supportive families in fostering a just society. It emphasized that inclusivity must extend to all members, including those with disabilities.

Despite legal protections like Law No. 8/2016, a significant portion of persons with disabilities still encounter substantial obstacles in accessing education, healthcare, and employment. Statistics reveal that 11.4 percent of individuals with disabilities live in poverty, with only 17.2 percent of those aged 15 and above having received formal education.

Cross-Sector Collaboration for Rights Advancement

Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia), in partnership with the National Commission on Disabilities (KND), spearheaded the Run for Equality 2025. The initiative seeks to bolster cooperation across sectors to advance the rights of children, women, and persons with disabilities.

“We are encouraged by the strong public enthusiasm for Run for Equality, which reinforces the idea that meaningful social change requires everyone’s participation. This event is a symbol that all people, regardless of physical ability, gender or background, deserve equal space in society, including in sports.”

—Dini Widiastuti, Executive Director of Plan Indonesia

The event garnered support from prominent Indonesian figures, including model Kelly Tandiono and actors Joe Taslim and Yoshi Sudarso, who participated as running buddies. Actress Joanna Alexandra and fashion designers Amanda and Janna Soekasah were also among the notable attendees.

Pre-Event Engagement Fosters Awareness

Leading up to the main race, a Family Fest was held on July 11-12. This event served as a venue for race pack collection and featured a series of talks and workshops. Topics covered inclusive parenting, children with disabilities’ resilience, inclusive employment, sign language, and sensory play, all led by expert facilitators.

The Run for Equality is set to continue in other cities: Bandung on July 27, Kupang on September 14, and Makassar on November 9.

To support the movement, Plan Indonesia encourages public contributions through community fundraising at Kitabisa.com/kitasetara2025. Funds raised will help establish safe, inclusive spaces and enhance participation in empowerment programs for families with children with disabilities and their caregivers.

Furthermore, a portion of the ticket sales is allocated to providing prosthetic limbs for individuals in need. This initiative is a collaboration with Puspadi Bali, a long-standing partner of Plan Indonesia.

For more information and to get involved, visit plan-international.or.id.