From village to village: practical training, real impact

Earlier, we shared an update about our partner organisation Papua Mandiri Sentosa in Merauke. Their team travels from village to village to provide practical training in ICT and administration – skills that open doors to the job market. After visiting the village of Buti, it is now Boha and Bokem’s turn.

Initiator Edoardo Mote knows better than anyone how urgently this knowledge is needed. “Commercial companies are buying up land here for far below its real value,” he explains. “Many Papuans have lived on this land for generations, but without financial and legal knowledge, they can barely defend themselves. Our training programmes offer not only new opportunities for work, but also the knowledge they need to protect their rights.”

In the village of Boha, a large group of motivated participants has already started working with the training materials. Their motivation is strong – they want to learn, grow, and take their future into their own hands.

Interest is just as high in Bokem, especially among young people. The first training certificates have now been proudly earned and handed out. For Edoardo and his team, this is a special moment: a tangible sign that their efforts are making a difference.

He admits that at times it feels like a drop in the ocean – the fight for equal rights in Papua is difficult and often unfair. But every certificate represents a new opportunity for a young person. A chance for paid work, for further study, for a future in which they can, in turn, support others.

Thanks to donors like you, these training programmes can continue and grow. Each student costs 150 euros. Would you like to help? Donations can be made through our website, via bank transfer to NL66 TRIO 0321 0888 32 (mention ‘opleiding Merauke’), or by using the QR code shown here.