JAYAPURA – Acting Governor Agus Fatoni, along with Acting Chairperson of the Family Welfare Empowerment Mobilization Team Tyas A. Fatoni, visited several elementary schools in Jayapura City. This visit marked an important moment in celebrating National Children’s Day 2025 for the children who will one day carry the torch of Indonesia’s development.

“Today we are celebrating National Children’s Day. This is a crucial moment to honor children—those who will take responsibility for shaping our nation. This is a great opportunity. Today is Children’s Day—you are everything,” said Fatoni at Inpres Bhayangkara Elementary School, Jayapura, Papua, on Wednesday (23/07/2025).

On this occasion, the Provincial Government, in collaboration with Bank Papua, the Jayapura City Government, the heads of the Regional Apparatus Organization, the Family Welfare Empowerment, and other stakeholders, provided a variety of assistance. This included vitamins, milk, healthy snacks, iron supplements, and healthcare services for infants, toddlers, children, and teenagers. The aid was distributed to students at Inpres Bhayangkara Elementary School and Angkasapura Elementary School, both located in Jayapura, Papua.

“Today’s activity is a tangible way of showing our collective commitment to improving the quality of human resources, especially students in Papua. We aim to nurture smart, healthy, and high-quality children with noble character,” he said.

Beyond providing aid, Fatoni also inspired Papuan children to keep learning and dream big. He shared his own story—coming from a small village on the border of Lampung and South Sumatra, and now serving as the Acting Governor of Papua.

“Papuan children must surpass me. I am just a village boy from a border area, but I became Acting Governor. You, children of Jayapura City, should be able to accomplish even more—you could become president,” said Fatoni, receiving enthusiastic applause from students and teachers.

Fatoni stressed that economic hardship should not be an excuse to avoid education. The government has provided various forms of support, including scholarships and free education programs initiated by the President of Indonesia.

“The President has now announced free education for everyone. So don’t think that if you lack money or face economic hardship, you cannot go to school—you can go to school,” he emphasized.

The event ended with the signing of a memorandum of aid distribution between Bank Papua and the schools, as a shared commitment to support the education and well-being of Papuan children.

The Papua Provincial Government hopes that the momentum of National Children’s Day will serve as a starting point for building a resilient, intelligent generation of Papuans, prepared to become the nation’s future leaders. ***