Legendary American journalist Margaret Fuller once said, “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader,” suggesting that great leaders often begin as avid readers who spend their youth immersed in books.
However, in many remote parts of Southeast Asia, such as Papua, Indonesia—access to basic education, including reading and writing, remains a significant challenge.
This is the very cause that Mama Yunne is fighting for in Papua. Though she is now in her fifties, her passion for teaching children to read and write burns just as brightly.
For the past 12 years, Mama Yunne has dedicated part of her home to serve as a Reading House (Rumah Baca). More than 30 children from the area around Lake Sentani, Jayapura, gather there to learn reading, writing, and even basic math—a rare sight in a region with limited access to formal education.
Picking Up Children by Boat
A ketinting—a long wooden boat about 11 meters in length—waits beside Mama Yunne’s reading house. With this boat, she crosses the lake to pick up children from nearby villages.
It’s not just one or two children, 30 to 40 kids eagerly wait for Mama Yunne’s arrival. At designated pick-up points, she gathers them and brings them to the reading house.
The calm waves and gentle breeze of Lake Sentani accompany their journey. In about 30 minutes, they arrive at her home. Along the way, as she steers the boat, Mama Yunne shares life lessons with the children.
“You’re coming to the reading house for yourself, not for Mama. Later, you’ll be able to tell the people at home what you learned here,” she says, recalling the advice she often gives.
Moved by a “Calling from God”
Mama Yunne chose to become the caretaker of the reading house because she felt deeply called by God. For her, this role is both a blessing and a meaningful form of service.
“I believe this is a calling from God, given to me. Since I’ve been chosen, I must continue to accompany the children here,” Mama Yunne told GNFI on Sunday (May 25, 2025).
In 2013, Mama Yunne was selected through a village consensus to support a reading house initiative by Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI), an NGO focused on education. She wasn’t alone, two volunteers joined her efforts, and WVI provided learning modules and stationery supplies.
Persevering Through Limitations
Mama Yunne can rightly be called a hero. Despite limited resources, she never backed down from her mission to fight for education in Papua. For more than a decade, she has poured her time, energy, and even personal funds into helping children learn to read.
Each day, picking up and dropping off the children comes at a personal cost. The ketinting boat, powered by an outboard engine, requires at least 5 liters of fuel per trip. In Papua, one liter of fuel costs IDR 15,000 (US$0.92)—money that could otherwise be used for household needs like food.
Mama Yunne even prepares snacks, sometimes syrup or small treats, to keep the children motivated. All of this is done without any government support.
“Since 2013, I’ve been waiting and waiting, but no help from the government has come,” she said.
Still, her dream remains high. She hopes to one day build a dedicated reading house next to her home. A formal proposal has been submitted, but she’s yet to receive a response.
Despite the lack of government support, the parents in her community continue to stand by her. They believe that their children, learning at Mama Yunne’s reading house, will grow up to be smart and capable. Even the village’s traditional chief (Ondoafi) supports her mission.
Mama Yunne’s Hope for the Children of Papua
After years of dedication, Mama Yunne has become one with the children she serves. Beyond being a mother to her own kids, she is now also a mother figure to over 30 children around Lake Sentani. She has one heartfelt wish: for them to grow up to be good people.
“My hope for the children of Papua is that they grow into good individuals. Don’t become like the bad people out there. I want all of you to have strong character,” she said.
Her hard work has paid off. The children at the reading house are now more fluent in reading and writing. They’ve grown more confident too, willing to speak in front of a class and lead group prayers.
