Student Sarima (20): moving forward on her own

Student Sarima (20): Moving Forward on Her Own

Sarima has lived in Arso (Keerom) since she was a child. Her mother passed away when she was just four years old. Her father then moved back to Biak with her younger brother, leaving Sarima to be raised by her grandmother — “my real mother,” as she lovingly calls her.

For years, her grandmother covered all her school fees, housing, food, and daily care. But in April of this year, she passed away suddenly. Since then, Sarima has been on her own. She still lives in the same house and tries to make ends meet with a small shop her grandmother left behind. The income is modest — just enough to cover transport and study materials.

Sarima is now in her fourth semester of Sociology at Cenderawasih University. At first, she wanted to become a primary school teacher, but now she dreams of contributing to Papua’s future as a sociologist.

Although she holds no official position on campus or in church, Sarima is often invited to join community initiatives. She served as a mentor during an Easter youth retreat and supported university lecturers with student projects. When her classmates had to organize a community activity, she proposed training women in the fishing village of Kwadeware to make fish nuggets — and took the lead in making it happen.
“I learn the most when I’m actively involved in the community,” she says. “That’s where I want to make a difference.”

With this scholarship, Sarima can continue her studies and gain more hands-on experience working with and for communities in Papua. Her resilience and strong social commitment give her the potential to make a real impact.