One leg, a thousand dreams: Deki stands tall on Hardiknas
Nabire (ANTARA) - His steps are not perfect, but his determination is intact. In the middle of the simple field at one school in Kalisemen, West Nabire, on that Saturday morning, a Papuan teenager stood tall leading the National Education Day (Hardiknas) ceremony in 2026.
His name is Deki Degei (16 years old), a student at Mepa Boarding School, owned by the Central Papua Provincial Government, who only has one leg but has never lost the courage to stand and lead the troops.
When the first command was shouted, the atmosphere in the field suddenly fell silent. The eyes of the ceremony participants, teachers, and invited guests were fixed on Deki’s figure.
With a loud voice full of confidence, he led the ceremony from beginning to end, without hesitation, without faltering.
“To the ceremony instructor, salute, quick march!” he said loudly, in front of Central Papua Governor Meki Nawipa who was present along with several OPD leaders.
This 68th Hardiknas ceremony indeed felt different. All the ceremony officials were students from special needs schools (SLB) in Nabire.
Among them, Deki became a real symbol that inclusive education is not just a concept, but a living reality in the land of Papua.
After the ceremony, Deki still appeared smiling, even though the fatigue had not fully subsided. He admitted he did not expect to be able to stand in front of many people, especially in front of the Central Papua Governor.
“I am very happy and proud. This is the first time I have led a ceremony, especially in front of the governor,” he said softly, but full of emotion.
All of that did not come easily. Deki only had a few days to practise. He studied every detail from perfect posture, marching steps, to command pronunciation. Fear initially came.
However, that fear was crushed by great determination and focused practice until he was ready and confident to lead the ceremony troops. That courage is not new for Deki. Since childhood, he has been familiar with falling and rising.
At the age of six in Jayapura, an accident changed his life. His left leg was crushed by a truck when he and his father were crossing the road. Instead of surrendering to his disability, Deki chose his own “ninja” path.
He rejected every aid to support the loss of his left leg, whether it was a crutch or even a prosthetic leg that was once given by Central Papua Governor Meki Nawipa.
He chose to hop on one leg, in any condition. That decision shaped him into an independent person.