Our students have a lot to tell!

More detailed stories

Heryanti Zarah Harazaki Gea

Febiarni Laowo

The three siblings from Gido

Setiaman Lase

Fernia & Enima Buulolo

Heryanti Zarah Harazaki Gea

Everyone calls her Zarah. She is in the fifth grade at a public elementary school, where she learns alongside her classmates as an inclusion student. Zarah is the third of four children.

Zarah lives with low vision and cannot see without her glasses. A severe fever when she was younger left her with this visual impairment. She also has two uvulas which makes her speech difficult to understand and she struggles with partial hearing loss.

Despite these challenges, Zarah’s determination shines. She attends public school every day and refuses to miss a single class.

At Onipedistra, Zarah takes part in vocational training and often joins her friends in the dormitory for worship services. Her courage and perseverance inspire everyone around her, proving that her spirit is far stronger than any limitation.

Febiarni Laowo

Febiarni is a third-grade inclusive student at Onipedistra. Even with her glasses, she can see only up to about 1.5 meters. Because of her severe nearsightedness and the thick lenses she wears, classmates sometimes tease her, which can be upsetting.

Yet Febiarni’s spirit never wavers. She stays eager to learn and has never missed a single class.

Beyond her regular studies, she takes part in Onipedistra’s vocational training programs, exploring music—guitar and keyboard—catfish farming, massage, and vocal training. Her determination and curiosity shine through in everything she does.

The three siblings from Gido

Three siblings—Firwan, Agreys, and Princess—were born with low vision. Their parents work as farmers, while their second child, Tevan, was born sighted.

As children, Firwan, Agreys, and Princess often felt a pang of jealousy watching Tevan head off to regular school each day. Because of their vision impairment, the three were denied admission to public schools, which left them feeling left out and discouraged.

Everything began to change when their parents discovered Onipedistra, a special school for students who are blind or have low vision. The family enrolled the three siblings, who now live in the school’s dormitory and receive an education tailored to their needs.

Princes Loy Ivvana, Firwan & Agreys Lawolo

At Onipedistra, Firwan has blossomed. He has learned to play musical instruments—including keyboard, guitar, and keroncong—read and write Braille, raise catfish, garden, and handle daily tasks such as washing clothes and making his bed. He often plays the keyboard or guitar at church while his friends sing hymns.

Agreys and Princess also take part in a variety of vocational trainings, as well as Orientation & Mobility (O&M) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) programs. Princess is making steady progress, though she still sometimes needs a little guidance with tasks like washing her clothes or combing and tidying her hair.

Together, these siblings are proving that determination—and the right support—can open doors to a brighter, more independent future.

Setiaman Lase

Seti was born with perfect sight and could see the world clearly—until 2018. That year, a sudden growth on the cornea of his eyes took away his vision completely. Until then, he had attended elementary school, junior high, and two years of vocational school. After losing his sight, Seti withdrew into himself, spending his days at home overwhelmed by hopelessness and feelings of inferiority.

In 2023, his family brought him to Onipedistra, hoping he could join their vocational training programs. For Seti, it became a turning point. For the first time in years, he felt a spark of hope and a renewed sense of purpose.

At Onipedistra, Seti is learning to play the guitar, keroncong, and cajón. He also lends a helping hand to his roommates, showing them how to fold clothes neatly and keep their space in order.

After graduation, Seti dreams of becoming a handcraft entrepreneur and building a business alongside other students with disabilities.

The path hasn’t been easy. In the dormitory, he has sometimes cried, haunted by the feeling that his family never fully accepted him because he is different from his siblings. But his friends have stood by him, offering comfort and encouragement. With their support, Seti has come to accept his blindness—not as a limitation, but as part of who he is—and he no longer feels less than anyone else.

Fernia & Enima Buulolo

Enima and Fernia are sisters from Puncak Lolomatua in South Nias. Both were born with low vision, and their home lies deep in the countryside.

Growing up, they endured hurtful teasing and were often treated as though they were incapable of doing anything on their own. Because of their blindness, they were even taught to move by scooting on their bottoms instead of walking.

Everything began to change when they arrived at Onipedistra. There, teachers patiently showed them how to walk confidently on their feet, explaining that their challenge was only with sight—not with their ability to move and learn. When they first joined the school, the sisters were malnourished, extremely thin, and pale.

Today, Enima and Fernia are making steady progress, though they still need some guidance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL).

Enima can now wash dishes and clothes, make her bed neatly, and pray on her own. She has also started taking part in vocational training.

Fernia participates in vocational training as well, but she still needs help with several daily tasks, such as combing her hair, putting on shoes, and dressing herself—sometimes putting her shirt or pants on inside out.

Their journey is a powerful testament to resilience and the transformative support they receive at Onipedistra, proving that with care and encouragement, they can continue to grow in independence and confidence.

"For we walk by
faith, not by sight"
2 Corinthians 5:7