Vany, the leader of the Jayapura Deaf Community. (Instagram @noken_mamta)
Story by A. Ruwindrijarto
Once upon a time, at present time, in the picturesque city of Jayapura, there lives a remarkable girl named Vany. Vany is not your ordinary girl; she is the heart and soul of the Jayapura Deaf Community, known as Komunitas Tuli Jayapura. It is not legally incorporated, and has around 25 members, all young, men and women, of various ethnicity. About half of the members are of Papuan tribes. With her unwavering determination and heart full of compassion, Vany is carving a unique path for herself and her community.
In Sentani, Jayapura, nestled amidst the barren landscapes of Yotoro, Hena, Abar, and McArthur hills, Vany and her community embarked on a mission that has changed their lives, their community and their lifespace forever. It is “menanam,” a beautiful word that means planting trees. Planting is healing. It returns trees and plants to the barren lands. It starts by healing the soil, and letting it recover, be well and healthy again. Menanam is not just about planting saplings; it is about healing, connecting, nurturing life and hope, and a sense of belonging.
Vany, as the leader of Komunitas Tuli Jayapura, knows the importance of unity and inclusion. She believes that the Deaf Community has a unique perspective to offer: one that valued silence, harmony, and the beauty of nature. Together, in connectedness with other communities and youth in Jayapura area, they become Komunitas Menoken Mamta (Mamta Menoken Community).
And a noken they have really become. Menoken is the praxis of weaving connectedness among communities through materiality, knowledge, spirit, and solidarity; the call to practice flexibility, and with it, resilience. With open hearts and arms, learning from each other, to be always useful for self and others, and to weave solidarity, be connected to all beings, seen and unseen, and nurture life.
Noken (the handcrafted bag of the indigenous Papuans), the philosophy of Noken, and the Menoken (the praxis) is the gift from Papua to the world. Endowed in the bag, in the philosophy, and in the praxis of noken is the love of a womb. It is the strength that comes through acts of compassion, solidarity, flexibility, openness, transparency, and usefulness. Like a womb, noken protects and nourishes life, giving love and care.
The Deaf Community and all nokenners of Mamta embarked on a journey of healing, connecting, and nurturing. Life to barren hills
By joining forces, with the energetic Youth of Yotoro (Pemuda Yotoro, group of youth of Kwadeware and Toare indigenous community), they are breathing life into the seemingly lifeless landscape. The Kwadeware and Toare communities allocated three hectaresof their clan’s territory, to be developed into Kebun Tuli (The Silent Garden).
Their journey began with a shared vision: to create a lush farm and garden that will serve as more than just a source of sustenance. It will become a place where community bonds flourish, and the land itself will regain its vitality. The barren expanse was, at first, no more than a desolate field, susceptible to the wandering hooves of cows.
First on their agenda was the task of protecting this newfound canvas of potential. They rallied together and set about constructing a sturdy fence, a symbol of their commitment to safeguarding the future of their farm. With the garden’s perimeter secure, they turned their attention to the soil beneath their feet. Recognizing the importance of a fertile foundation, they embarked on a mission to heal the land. Their secret weapon: negentropi fertilizer, a blend of organic materials including cow dung, nutrient- rich moringa leaves, dried foliage, and coconut dust.
With care and dedication, they worked the negentropi fertilizer into the soil, infusing it with life and vitality. The moringa trees, known for their resilience and nutritional value, were the first to find a home in this rejuvenated earth. Their presence not only improved the soil quality but also promised a source of nourishment for the community.
As the moringa took root, they laid plans for a diverse array of crops that would grace their newfound garden. Each planting was a symbol of hope, a testament to the incredible transformation that could be achieved when a community came together with purpose, becoming noken.
Two bags of soil healer coming to Kebun Tuli, and to those barren hills. Just for a start.
This 3-hectare farm and garden was not just a place for work; it became a sanctuary for play, learning, and growth. It offered the Deaf Community and the Youth of Yotoro a place to connect with nature, bond through shared experiences, and nurture their talents. Moreover, it provided a source of income, reinforcing their self-sufficiency and independence.
Vany is leading Komunitas Tuli Jayapura and Pemuda Yotoro: Lunch break, guys!
In these hills, where the whispering winds carried their silent messages, Vany and her community found a comfortable, supportive, and genuinely happy space. It was a place where they felt accepted and equal, regardless of their hearing abilities. The Menoken and Menanam had become a powerful metaphor for the growth and acceptance they all craved.
Their Menoken journey not only transformed the lifespaces of Jayapura but also the hearts of its people. The hills that were once barren have started a journey towards life, echoing the vibrant spirit of their community. The Kebun Tuli transformed some of those barren land, to breathe and nurturing life.
Word of their remarkable endeavor spread, inspiring others to join their cause. The Menoken movement grew beyond their dreams, attracting people from all walks of life, deaf and hearing alike.
It became a symbol of inclusivity, where everyone was welcome, and everyone had a role to play in the betterment of their beloved community and lifespace.
Vany, with her leadership, not only cultivates gardens but also nurtures a community where differences were celebrated, where the silent voices were heard louder than ever before.
And so, in the heart of Jayapura, amidst the flourishing hills and farm, Vany and her community, the Mamta nokenners proved that the power of unity, acceptance, flexibility and opennes, and a shared love for life could transform not only the environment but also the human spirit.
And they live happily ever after…
Additional notes:
This Menoken and Menanam is happening not just in Jayapura (Mamta Region), but elsewhere too in Domberai and Anim Ha regions. See the following links for some of the documentation:
