An innovative wastewater system, important steps into the working world, and the promotion of international partnerships

Child Aid Papua has achieved important milestones in expanding its infrastructure over the past few months: the opening of new sanitary facilities with a sustainable wastewater system, and the construction of the girls’ dormitory, which will soon provide space for 32 students. The internship placements of our students are showing impact, while international exchanges and partnerships—extending even to potential scholarships in Bulgaria—are strengthening the future prospects of our students.

Film Premiere “Nature is my Teacher” in Switzerland

A special highlight was the Swiss premiere of our 50-minute documentary “Nature is my Teacher” by Simon Lister, held in the auditorium in Glarus on January 3.

Around 450 guests attended the event, which was personally hosted by Jonas. He and his wife Maya travelled all the way from Raja Ampat to Switzerland especially for this occasion. In his presentation, Jonas shared first-hand insights into the current developments in Indonesia and offered a personal perspective on the work on site.

The subsequent screening of the film, featuring Simon Lister’s professional and moving footage, made his stories even more tangible and created many emotional moments.

The evening was not only deeply touching but also an important step for our future development—thanks to valuable new connections and generous donations. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive; we are grateful and encouraged by the strong support.

We very much hope that the film, with its impressive imagery, will soon be made accessible to a wider audience via a well-known streaming platform. Simon, who generously made the film available to us for screening, is also planning a multi-part series and is already travelling to film additional episodes. You can watch the trailer here: WHAT WE LEARN | Official Trailer

Successful Start to the New School Semester

After the Christmas holidays, our school has successfully started the new semester.

All students returned safely and on time after four weeks of holidays from their villages and the surrounding islands. Travel is exclusively by boat, and many of our students now come from very remote regions of Raja Ampat.

Today, we support and accommodate children from 25 different communities across 15 islands—some of which are up to four hours away by boat. These journeys are usually made in simple boats that must withstand often unpredictable weather conditions.

It is therefore all the more remarkable that, once again this semester, all students arrived on time, allowing us to begin the new term smoothly.

Marine Conservation Begins on Land – Leading by Example with Responsibility

With the expansion of our boarding facilities and the growing number of children and adults on campus, our infrastructure must continuously adapt to the needs of the community. With the new sanitary facilities now fully operational, we have reached another important milestone.

We rely on a bio-septic tank system specifically developed by scientists for Raja Ampat, designed to operate in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. Wastewater is naturally treated through a coordinated system of microorganisms, plant installations, and banana trees.

This sustainable solution was a key priority for us. Inadequate or missing wastewater systems are among the causes of the gradual damage to the sensitive coral reefs of Raja Ampat. In many places, untreated wastewater flows directly into the sea, affecting water quality—with long-term consequences for one of the most biodiverse marine regions in the world.

With our system, we consciously take responsibility and set an example—for our own community and beyond. Contributing to a sustainable, respectful, and mindful way of living together is a core part of education for us, just as much as classroom learning.

In this area as well, we see ourselves as role models and ambassadors.

“Classroom” Underwater – Divemaster Certification for Febri and Melvin

Every child who attends our school contributes an important part to our story—and each of these stories deserves to be told.

Today, we present two particularly inspiring examples: Febri and Melvin.

As part of their practical training—an essential component of our educational approach—the two successfully completed the Divemaster course after more than eight months of intensive training with Tarzan Diving.

Today, they are already in demand as dive guides. They not only master the technical skills underwater but also communicate confidently in English with international guests. This is highly valued by dive centers—important training partners of Child Aid Papua.

This development clearly shows:

Our education system not only imparts knowledge but also enables a direct entry into the job market—including the building of a professional network already during school years.

International Recognition and Cooperation with Authorities

Our work is also gaining international attention:

As part of an official state visit, we had the honor of welcoming the Bulgarian Ambassador to Indonesia, together with the head of the Raja Ampat Tourism Office, to our campus.

Both were deeply impressed by our holistic educational approach.

A potential collaboration is currently being explored—including the possibility that our graduates may receive scholarships for exchange studies in Bulgaria in the future.

Progress in Expansion – Girls’ Dormitory Nearing Completion

A key step for the future of our school:

The new girls’ dormitory is about 80% complete. It will provide space for 32 girls and includes its own sanitary facilities, an integrated laundry, as well as a common and recreation area.

With this new infrastructure, we will create sufficient capacity to accommodate all students on campus in the future—with full board and lodging starting this summer—including those who live on the island and would in principle have a reasonable commute.

Our aim is to further strengthen equality while also fostering an even stronger sense of community among our students.