Wamena, Jubi – The An Kimin Kindergarten learning group in Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Highlands Province, was established to provide educational opportunities for
internally displaced children from Nduga Regency, Papua Highlands, who are currently living in the area.

An Kimin Kindergarten was founded after thousands of Nduga residents were
displaced to various regions following the armed conflict in their home regency, which began in early December 2018.

An Kimin founder Intanus Gwijangge said children living in displacement sites had
not received adequate education due to the lack of government support. The situation prompted his group to establish the learning program in 2021.

“For years, we have been working in the humanitarian sector, particularly in
education, by establishing several community learning groups in Wamena since 2021,” Gwijangge said in a telephone interview on Monday (June 22, 2026).

The An Kimin learning program operates in three different locations. Group One is based in Sekom Village, Muliama District; Group Two in Musaima Village, Hubikiak District; and Group Three in Healekma Village, Napua District.

The program currently serves 100 students, 50 of whom have been registered in Indonesia’s Basic Education Data System (Dapodik). Five volunteers serve as teachers, with one assigned to Muliama, two to Healekma, and two to Musaima.

According to Gwijangge, the group has previously proposed that the Nduga Education Office provide a suitable school building to support teaching and learning activities. However, the proposal has yet to receive a response.

He explained that although the initiative is called An Kimin Kindergarten, its students are not limited to kindergarten-age children. The program also accommodates children of elementary and junior high school age.

“They are school dropouts from conflict-affected areas in Nduga, including Yigi, Mebarok, Mbugumu Yal, Paro, and other districts. We are trying to embrace them, so they do not lose their future,” he said.

Gwijangge said that last year, 13 students from An Kimin were enrolled in are educational foundation in Wamena to continue their studies under better conditions. Several other students have also been placed in schools in Napua District.

“We do all of this because we care about human resource development, not because of any personal interest. We have communicated this situation to the Head of the Nduga Education Office, but until now there has been no serious response,” he said.

Gwijangge hopes the Nduga Regency Government will support the initiative by
helping provide dormitories, learning facilities, and other educational necessities.

According to him, the community-based education movement complements
government efforts to fulfill children’s right to education.

“We are helping the regency government, provincial government, and other authorities prepare the next generation. Therefore, we hope there will be tangible support from the government for the efforts we have undertaken,” he said.

Gwijangge also expressed gratitude to the Rayori Biak Foundation for donating notebooks and pens to the learning program.

“The assistance is very meaningful. However, we still need many things, especially books, stationery, and clothing for children and students,” Intanus Gwijangge said. (*)