There are many inspiring stories in West Papua if you are willing to look further. This island offers more than just its natural beauty and cultural diversity.
There are tales of resilience and empowerment, too, especially among young people.
Who says young people cannot do more than exist in society?
There is no harm in having fun, but it is also important to contribute something positive to society. Young people can inspire their peers this way and gain respect from older generations as well.
The Young West Papua Ones With Their Inspiring Stories of Resilience and Empowerment
So, what are the young people in West Papua do? Meet these young ones and see how inspiring they are.
1. Bhrisco Jordy Dudi Pardatu
Bhrisco Jordy Dudi Pardatu – or Jordy for short – is the man behind Papua Future Project. With his project, Jordy aims to educate children on Mansinam Island.
Jordy is also a receiver of the 13th SATU Indonesia Award from ASTRA Indonesia.
He dedicates his time and energy and provides more materials to help the children of Mansinam Island get the education they need.
With his friends in the same project, Jordy started teaching the children of Mansinam Island without pay.
In short, when receiving the SATU Award, Jordy stated that he would like to support indigenous children west papua living on the border to never give up their dreams.
Obstacles must be dealt with, whether having to row a boat to cross the island to go to school or lack of road access.
Education is the key, and all children have the same right to get it.
2. Billy Mambrasar
His full name is Gracia Josaphat Jobel Mambrasar. However, he is more well-known as Billy Mambrasar.
Billy is the young Papuan man behind Yayasan Kitong Bisa, a foundation that helps to provide free education for underprivileged children – focusing on children living in Papua and West Papua.
Billy was born in Yapen to a simple family. His father worked as a freelance teacher, while his mother was a traditional cake seller.
When Billy was a little boy, she used to help his mother sell cakes. At that time, the rural area they lived in still had no access to electricity.
However, that had never dampened Billy’s spirit to pursue higher education.
This Jayapura High School graduate earned a scholarship to study at the Faculty of Mining and Petroleum Engineering at ITB (Institut Teknologi Bandung or Bandung Institute of Technology).
Billy did not stop there. He later pursued an MBA (Master of Business Administration) at ANU (The Australian National University). His specialty during this study was project management.
Billy graduated in 2015 with flying colors – along with Vice Chancellor Special Commendation Award. This award usually goes to local students.
Billy is also the founder of Kitong Bisa Foundation, an organization to empower Papuan youths in education. He is also on the Presidential Staff.
3. The Other Young Teachers In West Papua (including those from Indonesia Mengajar or Indonesia’s Teaching Movement Foundation)
It is unfortunate that education in the eastern part of Indonesia, especially West Papua, has been associated with negative aspects.
For example, difficulties in accessing roads, lack of facilities, challenging barriers between cultures, and many more.
Even with the development, which is still in progress, many people still consider East Indonesia lacking in many things. This includes education.
This is what brought Indonesia Mengajar to Maybrat, West Papua.
According to Hikmat Hardono, the chairperson of the foundation, the public deserves to know the truth about education in East Indonesia.
Based on the foundation’s teachers with experience teaching there, the eastern part of Indonesia is not as underdeveloped as many people may still think today.
There are many inspiring stories of resilience and empowerment in West Papua. What else have you heard from this part of Indonesia?
