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I Want to be a Farmer
30 April 2019 - by Admin

When we ask a small child about his dreams after adulthood later, some of the dominant answers spoken by the children usually lead to the profession of doctors, pilots, police and the army. Rarely do we hear the word farmer pronounce children as a profession that will become his dream in the future.This was experienced by a young man from Mangguandi Village, Padaido Islands, Biak Numfor, Supi Silas Rumkorem. This 19-year-old young man said, when he was young, his dream that was always echoed when answering his class teacher's question was to become a soldier. While there are classmates who want to become doctors, police and pilots.The response of his class teacher to that statement; great, extraordinary and proud. His teacher didn't even respond back to giving input on the existence of other professions other than the four professions mentioned above. Likewise with the parents, who usually add the profession of Civil Servants to be the ideals of their children.One Supi even learned about the profession of farmers and other professions after attending the first batch of education in the 2018 Pace Involvement, which was organized by the Bentara Papua Association in collaboration with Yokyakarta Insist."First, Kaka Hengki (Hengki Simbiak who once worked at Greenpeace Indonesia) who knew me, then Kaka Hengki asked me to take part in the Pace Involvement activity. At first I was hesitant, because I thought; this must be the great people who participated in this activity. Surely they are college people or people who work. I became insecure, but Kaka Hengki said that I had to be brave and confident, "Supi said.The first child of 9 siblings then with a little confidence decided to take part in the activity suggested by Hengki Simbiak. Together with Hein, his fellow villager from Aipiri Manokwari then joined other participants from North Maluku, Kaimana, Sorong Selatan, Raja Ampat and Jayapura to begin their education at the Aipiri Pace Involvement School.A week was given a theory of science that Supi never got in school and three weeks of practicing in Aipiri Village, Supi's self-confidence and outlook began to change."One week during the activity I was still insecure and shy, but after that I became familiar. Kaka Maikel (Maikel Kladit, Bentara Papua local champion from Manggroholo village in South Sorong) who is fishing to talk. After joining the activity one month. I am increasingly confident and know a lot of things, "said this 2015 graduate of the YPK Oikumene Manokwari High School.Even in terms of knowledge and mastery of technological tools such as laptops, GPS and drones were only acquired after participating in this activity. "During this time I do not know to type on a laptop, especially GPS devices. But I can get it here, and finally from not knowing now to know. Make me curious about these tools, hahaha, "he said while laughing.In the Pace Involvement activity, Supi admitted that she also got a lot of inspiration from Rudi (a young man from Cilacap who helped Bentara Papua in developing agriculture in the Arfak Mountains and Manokwari), to be practiced in their villages."It was from Kaka Rudi that made me have the ideals that initially became soldiers changed, and I decided to become a farmer. Because there are gardens in Aipiri Village that I can do and also in Mangguandi village, "said a graduate of the 2013 class of SMP Negeri 15 Anggori Manokwari.
But after the Pace Involvement activity ended, Supi felt like returning to Zero Point. The laptop and GPS device he learned a month were no longer with him. But his confidence and knowledge of the knowledge gained from Pak Roem Topatimasang, Tan Johan, Bang Anto, Bang Radjawali, and a number of environmental activists at the Bentara Papua, still remain in his heart and head."After the activity was finished, I left for Biak, to see the father who was sick again. In December, my father asked me to go back to Manokwari and take my sister's vacation to Biak. But Bapatua in Aipiri asked me and my sister not to return to Biak. Bapatua is worried that she will not return to school, "Supi said.While in Aipiri Village, Supi helped the bapatua and his mamatu clean the garden and other activities he could do. Including being a Sunday school caregiver. Suddenly the cellphone rang, there was a message from the Director of Bentara Papua; Supi ready to not join Kaka Rudi to Anggi?"I am ready, Mrs. Cipenk. I reply to Ms. Cipenk's message. Anyway, I'm happy when I read the message from Ms. Cipenk. Especially from the past, I had the desire to see Anggi not to the point. So this is an opportunity, "said Supi.On the way to the temple, he continued, they brought around 1000 Arabica coffee seeds to be distributed to residents in Testega, Bamaha and Kostera villages. Supi admitted, during the 4-hour journey from Manokwari to Anggi, he thought deeply that he was lucky enough to get this opportunity. because the dream of seeing this beautiful orchid finally came true.Not even there. There was another thing that was more important for him was he received a lot of knowledge while accompanying Rudi in Anggi and Pondok Bentara Manokwari. Not only does his knowledge about agriculture increase, there is even additional knowledge he can get."In addition, I also studied with Mr. Ade (an apprentice to Japan), how to analyze the soil and measure the pH of the soil and use the tools. After returning to Manokwari, we opened another learning garden next to the Papua heritages hut and I studied again using a laptop and typing. Now I have been agile using a laptop, hahaha ..., "Supi said, smiling broadly.This child from Zakarias Rumkorem and Merlina Kmur even admitted that what he experienced now was inseparable from the role of Hengki Simbiak and the Bentara Papua Association. Maybe this is just the beginning, so I shouldn't be arrogant. "But I admit, so far, I really thank God, for meeting extraordinary people," he said.If Supi Rumkorem's journey continues to be consistent, it will be like an old saying that says; What you are like in the next five years, is largely determined by the people you meet and the books you read today.*)

Note: When this article was published on the website bentarapapua.org, Supi and Rudi were studying agriculture in Solo, Central Java for one month. You can also see the visuals from the story above on Papua's YouTube YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hs3SW4K5Ko&t=242s



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