INDONESIA
West Papua, Indonesia
West Papua is a province in Indonesia located at the western half of the island of New Guinea. It is distinct from the independent country of Papua, New Guinea. Home to more than 300 different tribes, the population of West Papua embraces different languages and religions. The Papuans call themselves the forgotten people and are among the poorest in Indonesia. They often feel marginalised despite the government’s efforts to develop the region.
How RiverLife has been working with this Community
Genius School was established to answer the community's need for education for students from Papua. RiverLife takes part in cultivating the students' inner life - by bringing the Gospel and sowing the seeds of the Word of God through yearly camps (between 2017-2019) and other leadership training platforms. We believe that by sowing seeds of God’s love into the lives of the future leaders, we would ultimately be able to bring God’s love to the Papuans in West Papua.
In MFH 2021, we held 3 monthly online teaching and small group sessions with the students in Genius School, as well as games & bonding sessions and health talks teaching good hygiene and stress management. By God’s grace a team of all ages with diverse background came together to live out and impart the gospel in creative ways. With the help of technology and RiverLifers who come with keen hearts to serve, we connected deeply with some of these students despite the short time spent together. We also raised funds to provide vaccines for 126 students. In early 2022, the Pneumococcal vaccine was rolled out and the first batch of Papuan students received their first dose of vaccinations.
How are we working with the community in MFH 2021?
Loved People Love People (LPLP)
Having left their homes in Papua to study at Genius School in Jakarta, the Papuan students were unable to see their families for two and a half years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of them feel homesick and restless, longing to meet their loved ones back home.
The LPLP project aims to reach out to them in the midst of their struggles, proclaiming the Good News - that God’s love for us never changes. Through monthly discipleship sessions on topics of loving others, we hope to empower these Papuan students to love and give freely to their own communities, just like how God has done so in their lives.
LPLP will end off with a community gifting project as a way for the Papuan students to be involved in blessing their hometown with sanitisers and toys when they return home, just in time for them to celebrate Christmas with their families.
Health Awareness & Vaccination Programme
Other than developing these students spiritually, this mission trip seeks to educate the Papuan students on the importance of taking care of their physical and mental health.
Raised in rural environments with poor emphasis on health education, many of the students are unaware of the importance of basic hygiene. The missions team aims to improve the health of these students by conducting health talks on personal and dental hygiene so that the students are able to protect themselves, as well as those around them.
With huge expectations placed upon them to develop Papua when they return, the students feel immense pressure to excel academically and to become future leaders of change. As such, the missions team seeks to develop the mental well-being of the Papuan students by equipping them with stress management techniques so that they do not let the stress overwhelm them.
Unlike us, many of the Papuan students have not received their immunisation shots due to poor healthcare standards. Donation collection would give the Papuan students the opportunity to receive basic protection against potentially dangerous diseases they would otherwise not be able to afford.
Make a Donation.
You can also give via UEN or Bank Transfer.
Via UEN: 200100806DTNO
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Via Bank Transfer: UOB Account 450-309634-4
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