Lush limestone formations surrounded by turquoise waters, tropical reefs teeming with schools of fish, and green palm trees lining white sandy beaches – these are the iconic features of Raja Ampat, often called the ‘last paradise’. Located in West Papua within the Coral Triangle, Raja Ampat is renowned for its breathtaking beauty. Yet, beyond the idyllic imagery lies a lesser-known issue: the region’s lack of education. Between 2007 and 2018, tourism in Raja Ampat increased thirtyfold, bringing economic benefits but also posing significant challenges. Unsustainable tourism, climate change, and pollution threaten the archipelago’s fragile ecosystems. This is where the story of Child Aid Papua began – a journey to use education as a tool for marine conservation and to empower the next generation to protect their home.

“I just googled ‘amazing diving in Asia’ and came across a YouTube video from Raja Ampat,” Jonas tells me. “A few weeks later, I had a one-way ticket booked.” In 2014, Jonas Mueller came to Raja Ampat for the first time. Absolutely mesmerised by the beautiful landscape, the breathtaking coral gardens, and the kind-hearted people, he decided to stick around. But it wasn’t just the flora and fauna that caught his immediate attention – he also witnessed an often-overlooked issue: the lack of education. Raja Ampat has one of the lowest Human Development Indexes in the world, a high poverty rate, a lack of teachers, and high teacher absenteeism. “Often, there are not enough teachers in the villages, or they don’t speak English, and sometimes they just don’t show up to work, leaving the kids without any lesson that day,” Jonas explains. Raising the level of education quickly became a priority for Jonas. This is where the idea of Child Aid Papua started – with a desire to enable the next generation of Raja Ampat access to high-quality education.

Pulau Gam, located in the Waigeo Island region of the Raja Ampat archipelago, is a small island with a strong focus on fishing and small-scale agriculture. The small village of Sawinggrai is home to 200 to 300 people, with one local school. As part of a community programme of a non-profit organisation close by, Jonas began teaching English lessons once a week at Sawinggrai Primary School. After some time, the village head approached Jonas, recognising the value of his lessons and asking him to stay and teach full-time. The community built him a small hut where he could live and continue teaching English. With the students eager and excited to learn English and other subjects, Jonas’s lessons quickly became a daily routine. First, he would teach the young students, and later on, the parents who were interested in English lessons too. Realising the impact and the difference his lessons were making in the students’ lives, he decided to take his vision to a new level. In 2017, Jonas founded Child Aid Papua, a non-profit charitable organisation. Starting his organisation in his home country, Switzerland, Jonas had one goal: to build a high school in Sawinggrai.

In January 2020, the Child Aid Papua High School, also referred to as the ‘Environmental School’ was officially recognised by the Indonesian Ministry of Education, allowing it to provide consistent, high-quality education for students from grade 7 to 12. Currently, 43 students are enrolled, 28 of whom live on campus, while the rest come from the nearby village. However, this is no ordinary school. While English, economics, math, and other traditional subjects are part of the curriculum, the school’s primary focus is on the environment and the preservation of the unique archipelago of Raja Ampat.

A lot has changed on the islands since Jonas first arrived 10 years ago. Once a hidden gem known only to travellers in the diving industry, Raja Ampat has rapidly transformed into a well-known tourist destination. Although tourism grew slowly in the first few years, it has now increased at a concerning rate. “When we first built this school, I would see maybe one or two boats pass by during the day. Now, I see at least five liveaboards, along with significantly more small boat traffic transporting tourists and running errands for the homestays,” Jonas says as he points out another diving boat passing through.

In the last five years, and especially after COVID-19, more and more travellers have made their way to Raja Ampat to explore the ‘last paradise’ for themselves. Not only has the number of dive liveaboards increased, but the number of newly built homestays in central Raja Ampat has also risen dramatically. While the tourism boom brings certain benefits, such as job opportunities and economic growth, its negative impacts are becoming more apparent. “Over the last five years, we have observed an increase in unsustainable tourism, marine pollution, and coral bleaching,” explains Maya, the headmaster of the school. Marine pollution and rising sewage levels pose a significant threat to the islands’ delicate marine ecosystem. “That’s why we believe it is important for the children of Raja Ampat to learn about conservation and the environment so they can protect their own home,” Maya continues.

With the rapidly changing environment, Jonas and Maya prioritise educating their students about what is happening to their home and why. Their curriculum focuses not only on the threats to the marine ecosystem but also on solutions. Maya holds several marine biology classes a week where students can explore and understand their “ocean backyard”. In her class, she teaches them about corals, manta rays, and the biological cycles essential to the ocean’s health and ecosystem. The students frequently engage in hands-on exercises to apply what they have learned. During the class I was able to attend, Maya taught the students about different manta ray species and how to identify individuals. “What species of manta ray is this?” Maya asks the class in English. A few hands go up. “It is an oceanic manta ray,” one student explains, pointing out the distinct pigmentation on the ray’s belly. The students are eager and engaged as they individually sort through an ID catalog of manta rays, applying their newfound knowledge. Leaning over one student’s shoulder, I watch them carefully examine the listings, identifying each manta ray’s sex, size, species, and unique patterns.

Every Friday, the students participate in Ocean Warrior Day, a project aimed at tackling marine pollution in Raja Ampat. Through this initiative, they learn about recycling, plastic waste, chemicals, and how to prevent pollution in the first place. On Fridays, the students visit local beaches around Sawanggrai to collect washed-up trash. In just 30 minutes, they easily fill ten large sacks with plastic and other debris that have accumulated over the past few days. Once they return to the school, Maya teaches them how to sort through the trash.

“We can separate clean plastic from dirty plastic and make another pile for glass or clothing. The clean plastic can be shipped to Sorong for recycling,” Maya explains to me and the students. While most of the trash washes up due to ocean currents and likely comes from distant locations, the school also teaches students how to minimise their own waste and adopt small daily habits to reduce plastic use at home. Many of the children and their families are unaware of the environmental impact of plastic and sewage because no one has ever taught them. However, students who gain knowledge about marine pollution and recycling take that information home. They become teachers to their own parents, helping to reduce plastic waste and pollution in their daily lives and households.

But the high school’s approach goes beyond educating students – it aims to inspire them to bring change to their families and communities. Encouraging them to appreciate the ocean and be fascinated by marine animals and coral reefs is a crucial step toward ecosystem protection. By bringing them closer to the ocean and allowing them to explore what they’ve learned in the classroom, the school helps strengthen their connection to Raja Ampat’s natural environment.

During field trips, students learn how to snorkel and freedive. If they’re lucky, they might even spot manta rays or reef sharks. “One of our students saw his first shark during a snorkelling trip we organised,” Jonas tells me. “He was truly amazed, and when he went home to visit his family, he told them about the importance of sharks in the marine ecosystem and why we need them. His father used to be a shark fisherman but has since stopped fishing sharks because his son convinced him that they are worth more alive than dead and are crucial to the ecosystem.”

Child Aid Papua is not just about providing education – it’s also about what comes after. The school focuses on creating future opportunities for its students, empowering them to pursue careers in ecotourism and conservation. “In order to deliver the highest level of education to our students, we collaborate with various stakeholders in this field, such as hotels and resorts in the tourism industry, as well as conservation NGOs,” Jonas tells me. “This allows our students to gain work experience while still in school. We offer different types of internships, making it easier for them to integrate into the job market in this region later on.”

By grade 10, students can already gain hands-on experience through internships in areas such as coral restoration and ecotourism. Child Aid Papua has come a long way, and in 2023, the first two students graduated with their high school diplomas. Edy, one of the graduates, became a certified dive and ecotourism guide. He now leads trips to the remote areas of Raja Ampat, educating his guests about the environment and the region’s diverse ecosystems. Melando, the second graduate, worked in coral restoration alongside scientists before receiving a scholarship to a private university in Jakarta, where he is now pursuing a degree in hospitality and tourism.

Education is one of the most effective and important tools in marine conservation, particularly in remote areas like Raja Ampat. Now is a crucial time to act, as Raja Ampat faces growing threats from increasing tourism, marine pollution, and ongoing coral bleaching events. More than ever, education plays a vital role in inspiring change and helping to mitigate these challenges. By not only raising awareness but also empowering the next generation, Child Aid Papua gives its students the opportunity to create a better future for their home and become the new ocean stewards of Raja Ampat.