West Papua is one of the provinces in Indonesia. The area coverage included Semenanjung Domberai, Bomberai, Wondiwoi, and the famous Raja Ampat islands. The capital is in Manokwari, while the biggest city is in Sorong. This province is bordered to the north of Pacific Ocean, to the west of Halmahera Sea and Seram Sea, then to the south of Banda Sea.
West Papua is famous for its Raja Ampat islands, this area contained with the richest marine biodiversity in the world. The view from the land is magnificent, while the under the sea is breathe taking. This is one of the most wanted tourism destinations for people around the world, a heaven for all of the diving enthusiasm. But, not only rich in biodiversity; West Papua also has many young potentials, for example Billy Membrasar.
Who is Billy Membrasar
In November 2019, President of Republic Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) gave a new touch on his cabinet by inaugurated 11 of special staff (stafsus) from young people (millennial). Seven of them are having entrepreneurship background in Indonesia. Jokowi hopes these young people will bring a great impact and fresh innovation to help him to develop Indonesia.
One of the 11 millennial staff is Billy Mambrasar. His full name is Gracia Josaphat Jobel Mambrasar, but later he is more known as Billy Mambrasar. He was born in Serui, Yapen Island, West Papua in 17 December 1988. He is the founder of Yayasan Kitong Bisa. This foundation is focusing on education sector, to provide education for kids with poverty background in West Papua.
Billy Mambrasar Background and Career
Billy comes from the low economy family in Yapen Island, West Papua. His humble family is depending their life by selling their cakes in the fresh market to survive. Before he is joining in the government with Jokowi, he used to work as an engineer in a British Oil and Gas Company, British Petroleum. In this company, Billy was joining in an engineer team to develop a gas project called LNG Tangguh. This is a mega project to build an LNG refinery in Bintuni Bay, West Papua.
Then, Billy resigned from this project to start his foundation “Yayasan Kitong Bisa”. He is also a businessman and he also develop several businesses with his partners, from these businesses he uses the money to run his foundation, Yayasan Kitong Bisa.
After deciding to end his career as an engineer in British Petroleum, Billy tried to be a social entrepreneur until 2019. In the end of that year, Billy Mambrasar inaugurated by President Jokowi to be a part of his millennial staff. Of course, to be a part of the Presidential staff has never been on his mind at all. Thus, he feels grateful for this opportunity.
Educational Background
Billy Membrasar finished his undergraduate degree from Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), faculty of Mining and Oil. ITB is one of the most reputable universities in Indonesia. After that, he continued his Master study in Master of Business Administration in The Australian National University. He was a brilliant student and he is given the title of Student of the Year in the 2015. He didn’t stop there, he continued his study again in Said Business School, University of Oxford. He was one of the LPDP grantee from Indonesian Ministry of Monetary to continue his education in the United States.
LPDP is a national organisation in Indonesia under the ministry of monetary. Their responsibility is to manage the fund for education. At least 20% fund from APBN has to be allocated for educational program. One of their programs is LPDP scholarship.
Billy is also the first West Papuan who admitted to Harvard University, a very prestigious university and reputable around the world. It is hard to get into this university. Harvard is well known and already graduated many reputable people, including the president of the United States.
Billy Membrasar Contribution to Indonesia
Billy is also an ambassador of an SDG program in Indonesia for 2019-2021. He is appointed by Menteri Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional (BAPPENAS). It is the ministry of national development planning in Indonesia. He is invited to speak in national and international forum. He is actively advocating people to reduce the plastic waste in Indonesian ocean. It is one of the environmental issues in Indonesia.
Also, Billy held various business training in Indonesia to empower young entrepreneur, especially from West Papua in hope of reducing the poverty number in West Papua. At the moment, he is supervising the entrepreneurship training in Maluku province and also West Papua, it is called as Papua Youth Creative Hub.
Conclusion:
It is important to empower young people to get a proper education and achieve their dreams. Through educational program such as scholarship given, it makes good education more accessible. It is also important to train them in the field of their expertise, so their work will be more valuable. West Papua has so many potentials, including their people. With a proper education, it is not impossible to improve their economy. Just like what Billy Mambrasar try to do now in the field of social entrepreneurship.
