In a remote corner of the Papua mountains, in the village of Yaruhuk, Hilipuk District, Yahukimo Regency, a boy named Tinus Simbu was born. He grew up in simplicity, alongside his father Beruk Simbu, his mother Sisien Silak, and three sisters. His home may have been far from the glittering lights of the city, but within his heart, there was a dream: to change his fate through education. In 2018, he graduated from SD Inpres Yamin. It wasn’t just a graduation, but the beginning of a long journey filled with challenges.

His journey took him to SMP PGRI Wamena, then to SMA Yapesli Wamena from 2021 to 2024. Each level of education was not just about learning, but about surviving. It was about missing home. About enduring the exhaustion in an unfamiliar city. The distance from his village to the city was not just a number on a map. It was a journey that consumed time, energy, and money. Phone signals were not always available. Communication was not always possible. Even when he ventured further, all the way to Australia, he couldn’t reach his parents. No messages were sent. No calls connected. Only silent prayers whispered, hoping that his parents would somehow receive the good news in God’s own way.

In 2022–2024, Tinus joined BPEC Port Numbay at the GKI Port Numbay class, held at SMA YPK Diaspora Kotaraja. When he had to move to Jayapura for university, confusion came again. He didn’t know where to continue his course. In the midst of doubt, he bravely reached out to Kakak Robi and Daud via WhatsApp. From that simple conversation, a path opened. He was directed to join BPEC at SMA Diaspora Kotaraja. Sometimes life changes not because of big things, but because of small acts of bravery, like asking and trying.

October 2025 was a month Tinus would never forget. Alongside Michael Israel, he was called for an interview by Miss Sera and Lee Anne at SMA Diaspora Kotaraja. As he sat in the interview chair, his hands felt cold. In his heart, he wondered, "Maybe this is too much for me." He was just a boy from the village of Yaruhuk. But despite his doubts, he answered truthfully and sincerely. When the announcement came, his name was called as one of the selected participants for the Australian Papuan Cultural Exchange Program (APCEP) in Australia for three months. The world that once seemed so far away now felt real.

When the plane landed and he set foot in Australia, there was a swelling sense of pride, but also a small ache in his heart. He longed to call his parents. He wanted to say, “I’ve arrived.” But circumstances didn’t allow. He stood in a foreign land with a heart full of longing. In a new environment, with a host family and at Milner International College of English in Perth, Western Australia, he learned about language and culture, but more importantly, he learned about sacrifice. He realized that every step he took carried the prayers of his parents, which he may never have heard directly but that always accompanied him.

Tinus's journey is not just a story about school or a study abroad program. It’s the tale of a boy from a remote village who dared to defy limitations. It’s about an unspoken longing. About prayers that may never be heard, but are real. About hope that doesn’t fade, even when faced with silence. He proved that dreams have no boundaries, and hope always finds its way for those who don’t give up.