A Twisted Plot To Be A Pilot
"I want to be a pilot, I want to be able to take people on airplanes," Yeri said with a smile. At only 6 years old, he already has dreams. However, his dreams will not be achieved because he does not have a birth certificate.
For us who live with access, a birth certificate is a legal document that is easy to obtain. But this is not the case for Indonesians who live in underdeveloped and remote areas. For example, in villages located in the Pegunungan Tengah of Papua.
"My mother can't write. So she can't take care of the certificate," says the boy who loves playing soccer. Yeri's mother is illiterate, so she is unable to meet the administrative work of making a birth certificate. In addition, the distance from the village to the Civil Registry Office in the city is far. Yeri's parents need to pay a motorcycle taxi to get to the city, even though it is difficult to pay for their daily living expenses.
Having a birth certificate is a basic right for every child. A birth certificate is a child's first civil document. Its ownership is a sign that the child is recognized by the state. In other words, the state is responsible for supporting Yeri's life and fulfilling his rights.
Starting from the simplest thing, which is to register for school, Yeri needs a birth certificate. Currently, Yeri can be registered as an elementary school student only with the understanding of the principal. But when it comes to applying for junior high school, high school, or flight school, Yeri needs to include a birth certificate when applying. If Yeri's rights are not fulfilled until adulthood, he will never have access to education. Yeri's hopes will only take off.
Yeri's dream of becoming a pilot could be brighter by helping him access the basic rights of a citizen. Yeri represents more than half of the children in Papua who still do not have birth certificates. We can be the #HOPEbearer figures who ease their way to get this right. So that later, the hopes of Yeri and other Papuan children will not have to be dashed just because of a piece of legal document.
Your role is very meaningful. Take your role now so that Yeri's dream of becoming a pilot can come true. Click this link wahanavisi.org/childhope for more information.
Writer: Mariana Kurniawati (Communication Executive)
