Central Middle Fly community celebrate the opening of their Community Learning Center in Aiambak.
The communities of the Community Mine Continuation Agreement Trust regions (CMCA) in central Middle Fly, and Suki Fly Gogo in the South Fly received Community Learning Centres (CLC) funded by the 10% Women and Children funds from the OTML compensation package.
The Presidents of the Women and Children Associations from both Trust regions received the keys to the CLC’s this month.
Middle Fly Women and Children Association President, Ms. Charlotte Mathews received the key to the CLC on 09th October 2022 on behalf of the six Central Middle Fly villages. She acknowledged the support of development partners who delivered the CLC infrastructure, while commending the community women and youths for making the occasion special for the invited guests and appreciated their continued support to the association.
Ms. Mathews said: “Today marks a special day for, women, children and youths of central Middle Fly because from this CLC, life skills training’s and capacity building programs will be facilitated for the good of the communities. This CLC will help support development, let’s take care of it. We want to thank OTML and the CMCA communities for honoring their commitment in the agreement by allocating 10% of the compensation package for women and children and we also want to thank OTDF for helping us implement our projects.”
Lower Suki Fly Gogo Community Learning Center at Nakaku station, South Fly.
South Fly launch 2 CLCs
Similarly, in South Fly, the Suki Fly Gogo Women and Children Association also received the keys for two new CLC’s on the 11th and 13th October 2022.
President Mrs. Saridu Saudi in her welcoming remarks said the CLC is a legacy project by the association executives. “The work is done because we have the heart for our people. Our faith outweighs the struggles and our perseverance pushes us through to accomplishing our plans outlined in the 5-year Strategic Action Plan (2019-2023).
According to the OTDF Executive Manager Program Services, Mr. Eric Kuman, the CLC is a unique concept that aims to bring life skills trainings to the community, giving equal opportunity and shared responsibility for the mission of educating all members of the community. He said: “This is your university, I encourage you all to get involved in using the building to continue your education, learn life skills and conduct meetings. Open the doors to partners, NGO’s, donors and government to use the CLC for development work. It is not an OTDF building, it is community property and most importantly, take care of it.”
OTDF CEO Mr. Havini Vira in his official address said such projects needed will power and determination to accomplish due the logistic challenges and stringent processes to approve projects. He said all this wouldn’t happen without partnership between OTDF and the women and children’s associations. OTDF cannot do it alone, partnership with donors, NGO’s, government and the community is critical for projects delivery and development. The CLC will be used as a clean, safe place for the community. It is fitted with solar power and WaSH certified toilets.
The project delivered by the Ok Tedi Development Foundation Infrastructure Development Department (IDD) has so far built 18 community learning centers across the three districts of Western Province in the CMCA communities in partnership with the eight Women and Children Associations.