Stars from the East, This Is the New Dream of Papuan Children Thanks to the Internet

Children of Kampung Klayas who need health and education facilities. ANTARA PHOTOS / Akbar Nugroho Gumay / ed / pd / 15

If there is a saying to hang your dreams up in the sky, Papuan children hang theirs in the position of the civil service or soccer fields. Now that they have the internet, their dreams are shining from the Eastern sky.



"When my dream changed to become a singer, my parents were worried. Can you live from singing or not?" Michael said when he was called to speak in the Mari Cerita (Mace- let’s tell a story) of Papua, last February 2019.



There are two jobs that the Papuan children dream to have: Becoming a civil servant and a soccer player. Singer from Jayapura, Papua, Michael Jakarimilena admitted that those had also been his dream and the wish of his parents when he was a child. The reason is that civil servants have fixed salaries and definite pensions. While being a soccer player can lift the dignity of the Papuans and devotion to God.



But after the internet entered, said Michael, Papuan children have more diverse goals. They are more creative and confident in showing their abilities. Jobs in the creative economy sector have emerged, ranging from showing artistic talent to selling Papuan handicraft products. Michael believes that someday Papua will become the centre of hip-hop music in Indonesia.



This change was justified by Papuan social activist Lisa Duwury. Lisa said that currently many young Papuans want to make business online. Their orientation has changed and they are more willing to open jobs online.



Internet infrastructure is indeed encouraged by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kemkominfo) through the Palapa Ring program. The internet network in the eastern part of Indonesia will connect with the central and western areas in the middle of this year.



Thanks to this internet infrastructure, young Papuans started making online applications. One of them is Raden Lukman, a young man from Sorong, West Papua. He and his friend made "Jelajah Sorong", a travel application based on community empowerment. This application makes it easier for tourists to come to Sorong according to the ability of their pockets.



"Of course we know, traveling to Papua is not cheap. In terms of transportation and accommodation. This application can reduce the budget," Raden said.



The Jorong Sorong application partners with local communities to provide shelter, places to eat, and tour guides. Lukman and his team educated native citizens to be able to serve tourists well. This application gets funding from the Ministry of Tourism and will be launched in 2019.



Customized Vocational Education Is Needed



The government is intensively carrying out infrastructure development for Papua and West Papua. But this, according to social activist Lisa Duwiry, needs to be complemented by capacity building for human resources.



"Urban Papuans are indeed happy with the development, but rural residents are worried that they cannot compete with outsiders or migrants," Lisa said.



This is because they do not have enough ability to work. For this reason, Lisa suggested that the government conduct vocational education in the Job Training Centers so skills that are developed are in line with the needs. For example, skills related to fish processing, carpentry, and similar skills can be taught in vocational training.



In addition, said Lisa, the government needs to focus on education and health sectors to increase the capacity of Papuan children. Papua is still experiencing shortages of teachers and health workers because there are rarely doctors and teachers who want to work in remote areas.



To help raise funds for education, Lisa and her friends made a movement called #ForKorowai and #KalepinKorowai. This movement aims to help Korowai children getting an education by building dormitories and schools and giving incentives to teachers who want to teach in the inlands.



Education and internet access are indeed among the most important tools to open inclusive employment opportunities underprivileged regions in Indonesia. Inclusive work opportunities can be created if sustainable economic growth can be achieved. Ideas about decent and inclusive work will be discussed in the 2019 Indonesia Development Forum.



IDF 2019 was initiated by the Ministry of National Development Planning / National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) with the support of the Australian Government through the Knowledge Sector Initiative. This international forum takes on the theme Mission Possible:  Seizing the Opportunities of Future Work to Drive Inclusive Growth.

Do you have ideas for creating inclusive employment opportunities? Immediately send your proposal to IDF 2019!