By Wulan Hardiyati Pangestika (Student of DPP 2013)
“The Sunday school children listen to, the parents, especially the god that’s a sign of a sweet child, will go to heaven received the crown, gold …. “Although it has been more than a month since the return from KKN, the song is still ringing. Children in Warbor Village, Supiori District often sing the song when playing. Inevitably we as immigrants who often interact with them also sang the similar song.
Still stuck in my mind the first time hearing the children there singing the song. They stood on their little bridge carrying a fishing rod rolled up on a used bottle. At the end they hook the hook, in that simple way they can get a lot of fish. While waiting for the fish to eat their hooks joking with singing Sunday school songs.
Not long after the fish collected, they prepared the fire, the fish that had been pierced on the wood then burned. They look happy with the simple food of their own catch. They do not know the fancy food like children in Java. They do not recognize modern gadgets like children in other areas. But they enjoy their childhood days that look very happy.
Some areas in Papua are still left behind when compared with other regions in Indonesia. There are many things that need to be presented to support development in Papua. Such as infrastructure, strengthening public organizations, to the openness of communication networks with outside communities. However, keep in mind the changes that will be brought to Papua, should not eliminate local elements.
The people of Papua are still able to advance by consuming sago as a staple food everyday. The state can still be present without having to change the customary law or local beliefs they believe. The government is sufficiently facilitating what needs to be strengthened to bring progress in Papua without having to turn Papua into “Java.”
*Photo by Wulan H. Pangestika
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