en.malanginspirasi.com – Benyinya Dumuta Wemagi, a determined student from Merauke Regency in South Papua, has secured a life-changing opportunity to pursue her high school education in East Java, thanks to the 2026 Papua Secondary Education Affirmation (ADEM) scholarship program.
The recent graduate of YPPK St. Adrianus Bade Junior High School is among an elite group of just four outstanding students from Merauke to pass the highly competitive selection process.
Alongside three of her classmates, comprising two boys and two girls, Benyinya has been officially admitted to the prestigious Kediri State Senior High School 4 (SMAN 4 Kediri).
“Praise God, I am so incredibly happy,” Benyinya said, fighting back tears of joy. “Our parents could never afford this. When we saw our grades and found out we were selected, we were just filled with gratitude.”
Undeterred by financial hardships and her family’s inability to fund her higher education, Benyinya refused to let her circumstances define her future.
She boldly applied for the ADEM scholarship, driven by a deep desire to make her parents and extended family back in Merauke proud.
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Beyond personal achievement, she harbors a grander vision: returning to build and develop her homeland in South Papua. When asked about her ambitions after high school, Benyinya spoke with unwavering resolve about her dream of serving her country through law enforcement.
“My ultimate dream is to enter the Police Academy,” she said optimistically.
To ensure a seamless transition, the government fully sponsored the departure of these exceptional students.
The selection and departure logistics were managed collectively, with the students initially gathering at the district level before receiving an official send-off from provincial authorities as they boarded their flights to East Java.
Affirmative education initiatives like the ADEM program are designed to empower the next generation of Papuan youth, equipping them with strong character and top-tier education so they can return and drive meaningful progress in their home regions.
