Nemnemleleu Village on Mentawai Island has a rich cultural beauty. However, behind the beauty and richness of the culture, there is a story of struggle from people with disabilities who often feel marginalized from society. Yayasan Citra Mandiri Mentawai (YCMM) has provided assistance in this area, helping groups with disabilities get a proper place in society. One inspiring story is the struggle of Herianto Zagoto, a person with disabilities who is now a role model for many people in his village.
Herianto Zagoto, a man born in Nias, had a tragic accident on September 27, 2017. At that time, he and his wife were on their way home from the fields. As is customary in Mentawai, they carried a tele (a machete/long machete) slung in their left hand, with the sharp edge facing their neck. When trying to avoid a hole in the road, his motorbike swerved and fell, causing the tele to cut his neck, injuring his vocal cords and rendering him mute.
Before the accident, Herianto was known as an active person in church service and had a loud voice that was his trademark. After the accident, he had to face a new reality as a person with a disability. Emergency surgery saved his life, but he lost the ability to speak clearly. This made him feel inferior and isolated from society.
Despite feeling down, Herianto's spirit to contribute to society never waned. Seeing the success of his juniors and the enthusiasm of his children and wife, he began to rise. Herianto decided not to let his disability hinder his steps. With strong determination, he re-involved himself in community activities.
Herianto ran as a member of the Village Consultative Body (BPD) but lost by three votes. However, he did not lose heart. The community who saw his potential and dedication then nominated him to be the Head of the Community-Based Drinking Water and Sanitation Provision Program (PAMSIMAS) of Nemnemleleu Village. This program was successfully implemented with a satisfaction level reaching 90%, providing clean water and sanitation facilities that were greatly needed by the village.
After the success of PAMSIMAS, Herianto was selected by the Social Service P3A as the Integrated Social Welfare Data Operator (DTKS). His job is to ensure that population data is recorded properly, so that government assistance can be right on target. He ensured that the DTKS data for Nemnemleleu Village was well accommodated until 2023. Seeing the results of his work, the hamlet community nominated him as the hamlet head, making him the only hamlet head with disabilities in South Sipora District.
Herianto Zagoto now proudly calls himself a disabled person at every opportunity. He is an inspiration to many, showing that physical disabilities do not prevent someone from contributing to society. Thanks to the support of YCMM, Herianto and many other disabled people in Nemnemleleu Village can show their potential and actively participate in village development.
By developing a village disability forum, Herianto hopes to mobilize other disabled people to rise and contribute. "Let's rise, we become disabled not by our will, let's bring out the ideas, talents, and potentials that are within us with enthusiasm," he said.
YCMM's support and Herianto's strong determination are proof that social inclusion is the key to creating a just and fair society for all, including people with disabilities. This story is not only inspiring, but also teaches that with hard work and collaboration, everyone can contribute and achieve success.
