Reflections on Volunteering as a Teacher in Waghete
From the Western Tip to the Eastern Tip
The universe never asked for my permission to begin this journey of human life. Suddenly, I found myself standing at the crossroads of coming of age—a defining moment where I had to seek, choose, and forge my own path. This search eventually led me to Papua, answering a quiet call to serve as a volunteer teacher in Waghete.
For a long time, I had been drawn to this land—haunted by the systemic oppression endured by its people, the ruthless exploitation of its rich soil driven by insatiable greed, and the deliberate, enduring disregard for basic human rights that persists to this day.
The idealized visions of education I had embraced in my undergraduate critical pedagogy classes stood in stark, painful contrast to the reality of education in Indonesia’s far east. After much deliberation—and carrying a fragile mix of hope and apprehension—I left Medan, North Sumatra, for the Land of Papua in January 2026. Traveling from the western edges of Indonesia to its furthest east, I went in search of something only a distant land could reveal.
Waghete of Deiyai District, Central Papua Province
Situated 1,700 meters above sea level on the shores of Lake Tigi, Waghete brought a piercing cold that shocked me, as someone who grew up on the hot west coast of North Sumatra. I even experienced temperatures dropping to a freezing 10°C. Thankfully, my heart found immediate warmth through my fellow volunteers from outside Papua—Agnes and Dinda—as well as Manderika Pekei, a native Mee girl from Waghete. At the start of our journey, we were guided by Father Peter Devantara, S.J. (Parish Priest of St. Yohanes Pemandi Waghete and Dormitory Director) and Sch. Septian Kurniawan, S.J., who was undergoing his immersion program.
Our daily mission was to run a Basic Education Program, traveling by motorbike to outstations like Kigou, Yaba, Meyepa, and Yagu. Teaching in local elementary schools, we provided supplementary materials to support the children’s learning. Our goal was never to replace local teachers, but to support the children’s deep desire to learn by simply being present. We taught Calistung (reading, writing, counting) and other basic subjects to kindergarten and elementary kids. Because classrooms were often locked when we arrived, we frequently taught right out in the schoolyard. Yet, despite these limitations, the children’s enthusiasm never wavered. Afterward, we often distributed milk or boiled eggs, “a channel of love” made possible by donors who care for Papuan children.
a recreational barbecue together.
Everything was going beautifully until rising local conflicts and security issues forced us to stop our outstation visits. Instead, we adapted by moving our tutoring sessions to the rectory grounds after regular school hours to support children facing educational gaps.
After a few weeks, I realized that doing meaningful work within the rectory’s immediate circle was just as valuable. Mission work does not need to be grand or heroic to matter; every child simply needs guidance. In fact, teaching at the rectory allowed for a far more intensive and consistent approach. We could hold tutoring sessions four times a week without the logistical strain of rotating between distant locations. It also made contextual learning much easier. We transformed the rectory’s livestock pens and sweet potato gardens into living classrooms where the children could practice observation, reading, and writing. Furthermore, it gave me the freedom to innovate—seamlessly weaving together the Montessori approach, critical-contextual-reflective pedagogy, and the indigenous knowledge systems of the Mee people.
Learning to Be a Human Being: Finding God in Daily Life at the Dormitory
Beyond the Basic Education Program, I also serve as a mentor at the St. Yohanes Pemandi Dormitory in Waghete, home to a community of junior high school students. These children require a truly holistic education—one that nurtures their academics, basic life skills, and emotional and spiritual growth. Guiding them through their daily Examen (a practice of reflective prayer), helping them name and process their emotions, and even teaching them the proper way to scrub the grime off their school shirt collars—these quiet acts are the very essence of holistic care. In these moments, my college-era dreams of “saving the world” through grand, idealistic education policies crumbled. I realized this corner of the world needed simple love and presence. The children did not need an extraordinarily brilliant or flawless teacher; they just needed an adult willing to humbly, fully, and wholeheartedly walk the journey alongside them.
during the first semester of 2026.
During our afternoon dormitory study sessions, I teach Indonesian. I often engage the children in literacy activities rooted in their immediate surroundings, encouraging them to observe, critique, and reflect on the social issues they encounter daily. I strive to ensure that learning their national language is never confined to the rigid checkboxes of a school textbook. Instead, it becomes a dynamic tool that empowers them to truly read and understand the reality of their own lives.
The Visit of the Indonesian Provincial: An Encouraging Greeting
Due to health reasons, Father Peter Devantara, S.J., had to conclude his ministry in Waghete and return to Java. Father Philipus Bagus Widyawan, S.J.—commonly known as Father Wawan —took over his role in Waghete. While Father Wawan was stationed in Waghete, our community received a visit from the Provincial of the Indonesian Jesuits, Father Albertus Bagus Laksana. Our Local Superior, Father Yohanes Sudriyanto, S.J., accompanied Father Bagus to Waghete from September 5 to 7, 2026, following a visit to Timika to meet with Msgr. Bernardus Bofitwos Baru, the Bishop of Timika.
Father Bagus appreciated the dynamic spirit of the students in the boarding house and fully supported our ministry here. May Father Bagus’s visit inspire the children to be even more enthusiastic about their studies and their growth in faith.
The Search and the Journey: We Seek the Answer Together!
After one semester in Waghete, I came to a profound realization: I was not the primary teacher here. It was the children who were constantly teaching me—especially about what it means to live life to the fullest. Through them, I learned to recognize my own limits and humbly bridge the gap between harsh realities and the “ideal” concepts in my mind. Thank you, kids!
Together with Father Wawan, Agnes, and Aldo Mote—a seminarian from the Diocese of Timika making his Pastoral Orientation Formation at the Waghete Parish—I feel incredibly optimistic about the work ahead. To everyone reading this: if something stirs in your heart and calls you to learn more about volunteering in the Waghete mission, please reach out. I may not have the ultimate answer to what a “true calling” is—that is, after all, a lifelong quest—but by walking this path together, we can discover invaluable, unexpected experiences in this beautiful land. See you there! AMDG.
