Two Young Papuans Graduate From Pilot School

07 August 2017

Two Papuan youths, Herman Zonggonau fromthe Moni tribe and Amianus Wamang the Damal tribe graduate feom Genesa Flight Academy in Jakarta on July 21,2017

Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Two Papuan youths,  Herman Zonggonau from the Moni tribe and Amianus Wamang the Damal tribe graduated from Genesa Flight Academy in Jakarta on 21 July. 

"This is a dream come true. I strived to realize this dream, with help from others. I come from a modest family, and achieving this dream seemed impossible,” Zonggonau said when he was reached from Jakarta on Friday. “Tuition at the flight academy comes to Rp 1 billion, not including special training to increase rating,” he said. He admits he aspired to become a pilot since childhood. 

Now he and Wamang are ready to spread their wings in the world of aviation, in particular in Papua.

"I will carry out service in Papua. I will serve the people of Papua who want to travel to all corners of Papua,” he uttered. 

He says Indonesia’s easternmost province, Papua makes up almost 21 percent of the total area of Indonesia. 

On top of which, singular natural conditions in the region pose challenges to the mobility of the people and government of Papua Province. 

"It is normal for inland inhabitants to trek tens of kilometres to travel to an urban centre,” he said. 

This was a factor in shaping his childhood dream of becoming a pilot so that he could bring the people out of isolation to view the outside world and to catch up on their development lag. 

The youths enrolled in Genesa Flight Academy in 2013 after passing a selection to join a special scholarship program organized by the Amungme and Kamoro Community Development Organization (LPMAK), which manages the partnership fund for community development from PT Freeport Indonesia.

Genesa Flight Academy is located in Jakarta, with its practice field situated in the Cilacap Airport in Central Java. 

He related, before entering the school’s study program, he received mental and psychological guidance from the foundation Yayasan Bina Teruna Bumi Cendrawasih that is a partner of LPMAK’s Education Bureau providing assistance for the program. The two studied for three years in Genesa.  

"The scholarship is an opportunity, not an entitlement; this paradigm encourages children from the seven tribes to compete and seize opportunities. There are four assistance commitments applied: maintaining strong faith, building a stalwart character, and acquiring knowledge and competence and skills,” Yayasan Binterbusih foundation chairman Paul Sudiyo said.

He added, the greatest challenge in providing assistance is imparting motivation and guidance to become disciplined and responsible individuals committed to completing their studies. Editor: Ade Marboen

Source: http://www.antaranews.com/berita/644696/dua-pemuda-papua-lulus-sekolah-penerbang

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