Achieving selfreliance, health and quality of life in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province communities
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CMCA Women fund school classroom
Students in the new classroom with their teachers, funders and parishioners of the Catholic church.
Students and teachers of an early childhood learning centre in Ningerum LLG, Western Province, have reason to celebrate this Easter with the opening of their brand new double classroom.
The Inclusive Early Childhood Education Program (IECEP) School of the St Johns Parish in the Ningerum LLG built their classroom from a K60,000.00 donation made by three North Fly Women and Children’s associations of the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA).
Callan Services Kiunga Special Education Program, in partnership with the Catholic Church’s Daru-Kiunga Diocese, received the funding in 2021 and began construction in 2022.
Callan Services Kiunga Special Education Coordinator Mrs. Doris Amboman, said K20, 000 was used to build the classroom, and the balance will fund two teachers houses to be built at a later date.
Early learning encouraged
The double classroom at the St John’s Parish church grounds.
“This program is a preparatory stage before mainstreaming to Elementary School level. We take in 4-6 year olds and teach them simple play activities to learn their basic literacy and numeracy, shapes, sounds and phonics, rhymes, colours, and pre-reading. We give them a feeling of being in a classroom setting before entering formal elementary prep education,” she said.
“We get good support in the form of education tuition fee subsidy that comes to Callan Services Inclusive/Special Education component for uniforms, stationery, chairs, blackboards, sports equipment and the first classroom from the Catholic Church funding.”
She said: “My role as the Program Coordinator is to ensure teachers are happy, receive training through in-services and to seek opportunities for the growth and development of the school. I encourage the school Board of Management and the parents to take ownership and care of the facilities and have concern for their children’s future.”
She thanked the Tutuwe, Waitri and Nupmo women & children’s associations and the partnership with Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) for the timely support for the infrastructure project.
OTDF Programs Services Sustainable Development Manager Mr. Andrew Mari expressed appreciation to the commitment of missionaries towards development in PNG, particularly the Catholic Church, for the endless contributions in developing Western Province.
He said: “Western Province is a very difficult place to develop due to its geography, limited road links and vast wetlands. But development is achievable through partnerships with the community participation, private sector support, the church and the government working closely to secure funding for development in rural PNG.”
He said most importantly, transparency in project management and servant leadership are just as effective as the community ownership of such development projects.
Village leader funds timber milling training in South Fly
Saw doctors preparing the portable sawmill during a training held in Grengas village North Fly. A similar training was facilitated in Kenedibi village in South Fly by Green Hope.
Local leaders who care deeply about helping the community and have the ability to influence will have the much impact.
Villagers from Kenedibi in remote South Fly of the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) area received technical training in forest management and the safe operation of a chainsaw and sawmill to mill timber.
Thanks to their local leader Mr Aniba Samo, who funded the training, thirteen locals can apply timber milling skills in future projects.
Mr. Samo an Associate Director on the Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) Board, representing the South Fly CMCA region, donated K10, 000 from his director’s allowance towards the training.
The community requested OTDF to arrange the training so they could harvest timber to build housing. The Pre Start Training was facilitated through the Livelihood Development Program (LDP).
OTDF engaged Green Hope Investment Limited, a local group based in Kiunga, who are dedicated to building community capacity in forest management and safe use of sawmill equipment.
The trainees were taught to safely operate a sawmill, and a chainsaw; the process of log scaling for selective logging; and to effectively practice sustainable forest management.
Green Hope reported that the participant’s feedback was positive: “The people of Kenedibi village were waiting for such a training and could now proceed with their various housing projects”.
CMCA Women commit PGK450, 000 to Rumginae School
Rumginae School of Nursing witnessed 40 Community Health Workers (CHW) graduate with a certificate four (IV) in community health care knowledge. On the occasion, partners made commitments for the upgrade of the institution.
One such development group is the Middle Fly Women and Children’s Association of the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA). The association over the years has sponsored students to undergo training.
Ms Charlotte Mathews
Association president, Mrs. Charlotte Mathews said: “Today I not only come as the president of the Middle Fly Women & Children Association but as a parent, a mother to announce a funding commitment of PGK50, 000 each made by my colleagues from the other 9 CMCA Women & Children Associations. The commitment by the women provides counter funding for a fully kitted Science Laboratory which Ok Tedi Development Foundation is taking lead to build.
Top five students continue into Nursing Training
Ms Rose Makalisa receives her certificate from OTDF Executive Manager Program Services Eric Kuman (R)
Graduating CWH student Ms Rose Makalisa representing the graduates thanked all the sponsors, the Rumginae School and especially her graduating batch for the friendship and educational support provided throughout their time at Rumginae. She said:”Schooling and learning wouldn’t be fun without the friends we made. I encourage you all my fellow graduates to go out knowing you have made it and share your knowledge in healthcare to the communities you are placed at and do your work with pride”.
Ms. Dulcy Enemop (L) receives the Dux Award sponsored by BSP from Kiunga Branch Manager Mr. Ruben Attai (middle) in the company of school Principal Mr. Amos Kupaloma (R)
Principal Amos Kupaloma in his school update acknowledged the Western Provincial Government and development partners for their support in upgrading the schools infrastructure while acknowledging his hard working staff and especially the school governing council board for supporting him. He said:” The school has been operating since establishment in1976 by missionaries. In the process we have now upgraded the schools’ status from a CHW school to a School of Nursing, but we still have some more paperwork to get formalities completed. He said this batch were privileged to have used a new state of the art e- library installed by OTDF, which saw students and staff access medical information and learning material which was an issue in previous years.”
The principal said the school will see five CHW students from this 44th graduating batch continue on to further their studies under the Nursing training program. He said: These five are the top students and as we progress the numbers will increase. Enrolment is not limited to Western Province, this year we have two students from the New Guinea Islands and a handful from the Highlands region.
He said Rumginae School of Nursing is growing and will extend its institutions service to other interested students country wide who meet all requirements of the school, especially those with good grades.
Who We Are
Each executive and board member, team and individual involved with OTDF is an essential part of achieving the goal of allowing the residents of Western Province to have greater choices in mapping out their own direction to live better lives.
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What We Do
Operating independently of OTML since 2009, we are proud to have 50 full-time staff, 60 part-time staff, and committed volunteers throughout Western Province dedicated to ensuring our objectives and goals are aligned with those of the communities for which we serve.
To date, we have achieved significant outcomes across our investment portfolio and all five pillars of CMCA community development.
Economic Development
From inception as an independent organisation in 2010, OTDF has worked tirelessly with the CMCA communities to establish family and village-based economic and food production options.
Women's & Youth Development
Developing women and youth aspirations following the intensive consultative community engagement in the communities and mine villages.
Infrastructure Development
OTDF continues to focus on infrastructure delivery for communities to gain easier access to regional centres and government services, and to get produce to markets.
Community Health
The OTDF Strategic 5-year plan goal for the Health Sector is the CMCA primary health care service delivery strengthened and in line with the Western Province & National Health Plans.
Community Education
The OTDF Education Sector goals are to improve to quality education services, improve teacher education and training.
Our Communities
Western Province
North Fly District
Middle Fly District
South Fly District
Annual Reports
Our latest Annual Report is a comprehensive report of what OTDF has achieved and defines/outlines our ongoing priorities and goals going forward.
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Each month, our OTDF media team creates a PDF newsletter that encapsulates the many activities and achievements by OTDF, partners and communities.
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