Sr. Wilhelma Fanumby, DSY: 31 Years Educating Children with Hearing Loss in Indonesia

For more than three decades, Sr. Wilhelma Fanumby, DSY, has quietly devoted her life to educating children with hearing loss in Indonesia—a ministry that has transformed countless lives, often far from public attention.

A member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Daughters of Saint Joseph—known locally in Indonesia as the DSY, Sr. Wilhelma works at SLB-B “Karya Kasih” (Charity Works), a special school for the deaf located about five kilometers outside Ambon City, on a high plateau in Maluku Province. The spacious school complex is surrounded by large trees and fish ponds fed by fresh water flowing from nearby hills, creating a calm and nurturing environment for learning.

At her office, Sr. Wilhelma was seen gently comforting a teenage girl who was still in tears after returning to the dormitory from a holiday at home.

“She has just come back from vacation,” Sr. Wilhelma explained. “Her body is here, but her heart is still with her parents.”

A Calling Born of Love

Asked why she has remained in a ministry that receives little public recognition, Sr. Wilhelma replied simply, “Because I have fallen in love with these children.”

Shortly after professing her religious vows, she was sent to Yogyakarta, Central Java, to study specialized teaching methods for children with hearing disabilities. After completing her formal studies, she underwent practical training with the Sisters of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph (PMY) in Wonosobo, Central Java.

The PMY congregation has long collaborated with the Dena Upakara Foundation, which focuses on educational services through Special Schools Type B for the deaf.

“What I learned academically found its real application in Wonosobo,” Sr. Wilhelma recalled. “We trained the children to read lip and mouth movements so they could communicate effectively with others.”

A Vision Ahead of Its Time

The ministry in Ambon was initiated by the late Msgr. Andreas Sol, MSC, a Dutch-born prelate and Bishop of the Diocese of Amboina, who had a strong pastoral vision to serve those who could not hear or speak.

According to Sr. Wilhelma, the work expanded at a time when government programs for educating persons with hearing disabilities were still largely nonexistent.

“From the early years until around 2002, dozens of students came from across Maluku, Papua, North Sulawesi, and even Java,” she said. “They came here to learn how to communicate and live independently.”

However, the social conflict and unrest in Maluku between 1999 and 2002 significantly affected enrollment patterns.

“In the past, most of our students were Muslim, and only one or two were Catholic,” she explained. “After the conflict in Ambon, the number of Muslim students decreased.”

Financial Challenges

Initially, the ministry was managed by the Efata Foundation of the Diocese of Amboina. “Now this work has been completely entrusted to the Sisters of the Daughters of Saint Joseph,” said Sr. Veronica Manaan, DSY, a former congregational leader based in Pineleng, North Sulawesi.

Despite its success, financial sustainability remains a major challenge.

“Many of our students come from underprivileged families,” Sr. Wilhelma said. “Even so, we continue to accept and educate them so that they can eventually live independently.”

SLB-B “Karya Kasih” welcomes students regardless of religious background or financial capacity. “We accept everyone, even those who cannot pay,” she added.

Equipping Students for Life

Beyond communication skills, students are trained in various vocational programs, including beauty and makeup, culinary arts, fashion and sewing, and basic mechanical skills.

“Many of our alumni are now living independently,” Sr. Wilhelma noted. “Those whose families can provide start-up capital often open small businesses. Others find employment as shop assistants or in private enterprises.”

After 31 years of service, Sr. Wilhelma’s hope remains simple yet urgent: that more individuals, institutions, and benefactors will step forward to help ensure the continuity of this vital ministry.

“This work gives our children dignity,” she said softly. “And dignity is something every person deserves.”