Boni’s Million Footsteps to Realise His Dream

By Bartolomeus Marsudiharjo, World Vision Indonesia communicator 

Early in the morning when the sun is still rising, Boni Lokobal, 23, leaves his village, following a foot path that is still wet with dew. With only a sweater covering his uniform, Boni protects himself from the cold weather in the Baliem valley in Papua.

He has followed the path since he was a child, taking it to the day of elementary school and continuing to walk up and down it as he studied. In all the years he’s walked the path, one to two hours a day, he has made millions of footsteps to realise his dream.

Under such conditions, Boni needs to have excellent health in his legs. Unfortunately, he does not have that “luxury”. Since he was a child, Boni has had a problem in his left leg. It was so bad that the doctor almost amputated his left leg.

If he was born in a rich family in a big city, maybe his parent would buy him a wheelchair to support his activity. But he lives in a remote place in Papua where a wheel chair would not be useful.

Boni lives in a traditional house called honai in Menagaima village. The construction of a honai is supported by strong wood covered by straw or coarse grass on its roof. There is firewood in the centre of the construction to heat the whole room. 

As Menagaima is very remote, Boni and all her neighbours have to walk for about an hour, passing Haebuba hanging bridge that crosses Baliem River, to reach a road that is passed by public transportation.

People from Menagaima may not walk such that long distance, but they have to cross Baliem River by small boat or swimming. Boni was used to use that way when he was junior and senior high school.

Fortunately, Boni did not give up as he searched for a solution to his situation. As long as he could still walk, he went to school. Now it is proven that his struggle in the past does not go in vain.

Recently, Boni got a position as a civil servant and is assigned in Jayawijaya Tourism Office in Papua. It is, of course, joyful news for Boni.

Being assigned in the office is in accordance with Boni’s dream. Since he was in senior high school he wished that someday he could work in the tourism area.

After graduating from high school, Boni continued his study in the Faculty of Teacher Training, majoring in English language in Wamena Christian University. As his parents could not afford to pay his school fee, Boni had to stop his studies when he was in the fifth semester.

“This is the last money that I could give. Use it to seek a job,” Boni says, repeating his mother’s words several years ago.

Boni was very sad to hear his mother’s words, but he could understand the situation. His mother had other children to be cared for. With the money, Boni tried to find a job and was accepted in the Jayawijaya Tourism Office, before he was inaugurated as civil servant in the office.

After leaving his university, Boni married his beloved girlfriend, Mia Mulait. The couple was blessed with a daughter named Saturday Lokobal.

Although Boni left his study before finishing it, he still had a dream that someday he would like to continue with his studies.

“I think my studies are not enough. If I compare with my colleagues who have finished their Bachelor degree, I feel that I am nothing,” Boni says, comparing his salary and position to his colleagues.

“I plan to continue my study next June. If I get an assignment, I will continue my studies at the same university I used to be at. But if I get a permit to study, I have to continue my studies at another university,” Boni says, explaining that the system in his former university demands students be at the university the whole day.

Boni is the first child of couple Edy Lokobal and Ross Mulait. Boni has three younger siblings: Onoe Lokobal, 19, Ani Lokobal, 13, and Oti Lokobal.

Although Boni has to walk far, passing fields and deserted hills, Boni was very happy to be able to study at Advent Maima elementary school and Megapura state junior high school. His happiness dimmed when he found that there was a pain in his left leg. The pain was so irritating and he could not walk for a period of time.

“I was so frustrating when I saw my playmates could still walk, while I couldn’t,” Boni says.

After he received medication facilitated by Wahana Visi Indonesia, a partner of World Vision Indonesia, his health got better and he could continue his studies.

Since he has an income, Boni does not use it for himself. Although he has his own family, he also shares his earnings with his younger siblings.