Minister of Social Affairs Provides Assistance for Teachers and Communities in Samenage

Jayapura (October 15, 2023) - Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini distributed assistance for seven teachers who will teach at SD Inpres Samenage and Hemer Helenga, Samenage District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountain Province. This assistance is the aspiration of Jayapura Bishop Yanuarius Teofilus Matopai You.

The Minister said this assistance is a support to teachers who have a strong determination to teach in a very challenging location.

"These teachers will teach on the mountain. So far no one wants to teach in the area because there are many challenges," said Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini when handing over the assistance with the Bishop of Jayapura, on Friday (14/10).

The Minister said the teachers did not receive adequate salaries and operational equipment for teaching. Therefore, the Ministry of Social Affairs provides several assistance to meet the needs of teachers in Samenage, both for teaching and daily needs.

It is not easy to reach the school. The only access to Yahukimo Regency is by small plane from Jayapura or Wamena, then walking for several days to the school. Therefore, the Ministry of Social Affairs provides assistance for various household equipment for teachers such as mattresses, kitchen utensils, as well as jackets, sleeping bags, medicines, vitamins, and solar home systems (SHS) for lighting. In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs also paid for transportation to Samenage, teachers' honorarium, and incentives for 12 months.

In addition to the teachers, the Ministry of Social Affairs also assisted the Samenage community consisting of educational aid and assistance for the daily needs of the community. Educational aid is in the form of stationery, sports equipment such as volleyballs, footballs, sepak takraw balls, and sports uniforms for 300 children. In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs also provides personal hygiene kits such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, bath soap, laundry soap, and towels as well as food and various necessities.

To empower the community, the Ministry of Social Affairs also assists in the form of lighting, clean water, and livestock facilities. The assistance provided included 30 units of 100-watt solar home system (SHS), Solar Main Street Lighting (PJUTS), 300 L water tank, blankets, 450 pairs of clothes, 100 local chickens, rabbits, 1,500 catfish seeds and feed, and facilities for making ponds.

Bishop Yanuarius Teofilus Matopai You of Jayapura said that the assistance was based on his concern after seeing the condition of children in Samenage who do not go to school because there are no teachers. During a visit to Samenage, he saw that there was a school, but no teachers were willing to teach because the location was very far and remote. As a result, the school was paralyzed.

"I conveyed this condition to the Minister of Social Affairs and immediately received a positive response," said Bishop Yanuarius.

"Mrs. Social Affairs Minister is willing to help. She said she was ready to help as long as the Bishop provided the teachers," said Bishop Yanuarius. After the teachers were available, the assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs was immediately disbursed. The Ministry of Social Affairs even provided honorarium assistance for the teachers for one year of teaching.

 "After one year, I will look for other ways," said Bishop Yanuarius.