Puncak, Central Papua — Behind the silence of the forest and the steepness of the Papuan mountains, stands a simple man with an extraordinary spirit to illuminate the future of children from all corners of the country. His name is Andi Imannuel Rumbrar, a teacher from Biak Numfor who has dedicated his life for seven years to serve in the middle of the Wano Tribe indigenous people, in one of the most remote areas in Puncak Regency, Central Papua.
Andi’s journey to the place of his devotion is not only far, but also tests his determination and courage. From his hometown in Biak, he had to fly to Jayapura, then continue a small flight for two and a half hours to the interior. Arriving there, the challenge is not over. He had to land on a 400-meter-long emergency airfield that was only stone-plined, without modern facilities and surrounded by high cliffs that were almost unfriendly.
But precisely there, in a lonely place from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, Andi chose to build a new world—the world of education for children who previously did not know letters, numbers, and even Indonesian.
“When I first came, the children did not understand a single word in Indonesian. They looked at me like they were looking at an alien. But I know, behind that look there is a great potential,” said Andi with shining eyes.
With full of perseverance, Andi started teaching from the basics. He taught greeting, arranging letters, counting, and introducing the map of Indonesia. Slowly but surely, children began to respond. Now, they can not only speak Indonesian, but also begin to understand the outside world that has been feeling so far away.
Not only acting as a teacher, Andi also becomes part of the community. He mingled with the community, learned to hunt with adult men, planted with village mothers, and recorded one by one Wano vocabulary in his notebook. For him, education is not only about subject matter, but also about building trust and intercultural relationships.
“I learn from them as they learn from me. This is where the true meaning of teaching each other and shaping each other,” said Andi.
During those seven years, Andi lived without permanent electricity, without telephone signal, and with logistics that only came once in a while through a pioneer plane. But all those limitations did not prevent him from continuing to work. He believes that a sincere education can be a bridge of hope for Papuan children.
Now, the children of the Wano Tribe not only know letters and numbers, but also have dreams. Some want to be a pilot, a nurse, and some dream of becoming a teacher like Andi.
Andi Rumbrar’s story is not only about a teacher in the countryside. It is a portrait of the spirit of devotion, patience, and belief that every Indonesian child deserves a proper education, wherever they are born.
