Few people have heard of Atuka, a small village in Central Mimika District, Mimika Regency, Papua. Tucked away in the far eastern corner of Indonesia, reaching Atuka is no easy task. The journey requires a 90-minute drive to Pomako Port, followed by a two-hour boat ride along the river in a wooden canoe.
“We had to wait for the tide to rise so the boat could pass,” said Dr. Rustamaji, Director of Community Service at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), during his visit on Friday (Aug. 1) to the UGM Student Community Service (KKN-PPM) team stationed there for 55 days.
Upon arriving in Atuka, a wide expanse of blue sky greeted the team. There were no vehicle engines or machine noise, just clean, unpolluted air. Here, people walk everywhere. Narrow paths wind through the village, accompanied by the sounds of nature, the sea breeze, and the laughter of children playing on an open dirt field.
“We arrived at the student lodging. The UGM students welcomed us warmly and offered steamed buns and green-colored coconut cakes. We forgot to ask the name,” Dr. Rustamaji recalled.
While taking a break and enjoying the local treats, Dr. Rustamaji and the UGM team shared stories with the students about the progress of their community service programs, the challenges they faced, and the dynamics of living in Atuka. A few small children joined them on the terrace, peeking shyly and giggling when teased by the students.
As the sun began to dip westward, the students invited the visitors on a walk through the village, along a path flanked by rows of wooden stilt houses. Halfway through, the sea began to rise and slowly flooded the path. This natural occurrence is common in Atuka every afternoon.
“Unaware, we removed our shoes and walked barefoot, while the students, already used to the routine, put on their rubber sandals and carried on calmly,” Dr. Rustamaji said.
Throughout the walk, curious residents and children watched quietly, seemingly eager to connect. “Good afternoon,” came warm greetings from those they passed.
As they walked, the students told stories about life in Atuka—the customary boundaries that must not be crossed, how the community survives, and the challenges of education in the village.
Electricity in Atuka is only available for six hours a day, from 6 p.m. to midnight. It is primarily used for nighttime lighting. For clean water, residents rely on rainwater collection. Freshwater access is limited because the groundwater is brackish due to seawater intrusion.
“We experienced the same constraints during our visit, especially since it hadn’t rained for days. We had to fetch water from a communal reservoir with buckets and carry it back for bathing and other needs,” Dr. Rustamaji recalled.
Life in Atuka unfolds within a framework of limitations. Meals are less about variety and more about simply getting by. It is not uncommon for residents to eat plain rice with no side dishes.
“One child here told me he eats rice sprinkled with coffee grounds to add some flavor,” said Kania Irianty Riahta Sembiring, a member of the UGM KKN-PPM team in Atuka.
According to the KKN team coordinator, many residents in Atuka are not yet accustomed to providing nutritious meals for themselves and their families. On lucky days, they may catch karaka (crab) during low tide.
Despite these challenges, the people of Atuka do not give up. For them, life as they know it is what exists in Atuka, regardless of how outsiders might view it.
Before long, the UGM team arrived at SD Negeri Atuka, where the infrastructure division of the KKN students was installing a Rainwater Harvesting System (IPAH), one of their flagship programs in the village. The system was strategically placed at the school to ensure accessibility for all residents.
“We want everyone in Atuka to be able to access clean water without needing permission,” said Aldo Edward, one of the students.
Although only partially installed, the team continued their visit to SMP Negeri Atuka at the far end of the village, where they observed many children playing in the schoolyard. Some played football, others played group games like rounders, while a few simply watched, but all were filled with laughter.
While watching the children play, the team engaged in a warm conversation with teachers who were still at school after classes had ended. The teachers spoke candidly about how formal education is still not regarded as essential by many in the community.
Mr. Siswa, one of the teachers at SMP Negeri Atuka, shared his yearly challenge. Of the roughly 50 students who graduate, only about 15 continue to high school; the rest drop out.
“Awareness of the importance of education is still very low here,” he said.
He explained that many parents prefer to take their children crab hunting in the mangroves rather than sending them to school. For them, education seems disconnected from daily survival.
Hearing this, a deep sense of sorrow filled the group. It was painful to realize that while children elsewhere dream big, in Atuka, many are not even given the opportunity to continue their schooling. Education, ideally a bridge to the future, still feels like a luxury here.
As the sun set, the UGM team bid farewell to the teachers and returned to the student lodgings. There, they were permitted to use the restroom at the Central Mimika District Office located across from the student quarters. Unfortunately, the public toilet is the only facility at the district office that locals use.
The Central Mimika District Office is not functioning as it should. Most staff work from home. When the UGM team entered, they found a silent space, its furnishings dusty and seemingly untouched. What should be a hub of public service now stands idle.
“It’s a shame to see this potential left underutilized,” said Destina, a member of the UGM team.
After cleaning up, the team had dinner with the students. They prepared stir-fried kangkung (water spinach) and reheated rendang brought by the team as a gift. The simple meal felt rich in flavor, shared in the warmth of companionship.
Shortly afterward, the village’s traditional leader, known to the students as “Papi Leo,” visited the student lodgings, something he had done every day for the past month. He always came to ensure the UGM students were safe and well. That day, he shared that he had just returned from the town center to collect his stipend as a village official. Of the IDR 600,000 he received, IDR 800,000 had already gone toward boat fare.
“But Papi is still happy,” he said with a smile.
Papi Leo also expressed his feelings about the students’ presence in Atuka. For him, it felt like a dream.
“I never imagined that they could visit our remote village,” he said, visibly moved.
“Papi Leo is so glad to see these young people willing to live and spend time with us,” he continued with a smile.
“They didn’t just bring knowledge; they brought love and care, and that means a lot.”
The Head of the Central Mimika District Office also shared his hopes that UGM’s KKN-PPM program could one day reach other villages in the area, not just Atuka. For him, the students’ presence brought a renewed sense of energy, color, and hope to everyday village life.
For the students, their stay in Atuka was far more than just fulfilling a university requirement. It was a profound lesson in real life.
“During my time here, I learned a lot about the meaning of sharing and the value of having enough,” said Fatasya, a student from UGM’s Vocational College (SV UGM).
“Things we often take for granted can be considered luxuries by others,” she added.
Later that night, after exchanging stories, the UGM team settled in to rest. Before bed, they were reminded to wear socks, tiny insects called agas often appear at night and can cause itching and stinging, especially on the feet. Some students had endured persistent itching and even skin wounds from the bites. A mix of sympathy and admiration filled the air as the team witnessed the students’ dedication and resilience despite these everyday hardships.
The next morning, the UGM team waited for the river to rise before their boat could depart. At the port, the students and local children came to see them off; some shook hands, some waved, and others smiled through tears.
Dr. Nanung Agus Fitriyanto, Head of the Subdirectorate of KKN, was visibly moved. He said this KKN-PPM program in Atuka was truly special, not only because of the village’s remote location but because it marked the first time UGM students had ever directly served in Mimika Regency, Papua.
“Hopefully, this won’t be the first and last. May there be more steps forward from UGM for Papua,” he said with heartfelt optimism.
As the boat made its way down the river, leaving Atuka behind, one lesson remained clear from this journey: the people of Atuka endure with simplicity, and within that simplicity lies the wisdom of contentment, mutual support, and the pursuit of joy, even amidst hardship.
Author: UGM Directorate of Community Service/Bilqis
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographs: UGM Directorate of Community Service