Photo: Books and education keep Laurencia (facing forward) tethered to her dreams
SOUTH PAPUA – At a small corner of Asiki Subvillage, where time moves slowly, lives a young girl named Laurencia. Though seemingly ordinary, she harbors strong ambitions of becoming a policewoman. It’s her goal to give her people the safety and security they need.
Taught to live boldly from her early years, Laurencia sees her dreams as more than fleeting thoughts. That’s why each morning, the girl walks her way to Camp Asiki Elementary with books in arms.
Accompanying her steps are her family and palm oil company TSE Group, via a program that financially aids local students and voluntary teachers.
“It feels great to get a scholarship. Usually I would use the money for school stuff like books, pens, shoes, and things like that,” said the third grader. She hoped the program would continue for years to come and help more students.
Scholarships are undeniably a bridge of hope for rural communities, who wish to change their lives for the better, said TSE Group’s Public Relations General Manager, Daniel Sim Ayomi.
“For most children in Papua, scholarships are their only way to college. [That’s because here,] pursuing higher education is an opportunity that comes only with support. [Given that] we live in a time of teamwork, more dialogues, joint projects, and mutual trust are needed to address this issue [of limited opportunities]. When collaboration and innovation come from the heart, even the smallest village can move mountains.”
Providing educational assistance means recognizing the kids’ rights to dream and grow like their friends across the archipelago. It’s a form of social justice — Pancasila’s fifth principle — that ensures education is enjoyed by every child regardless of geographical location or economic status. (PR)
