Achieving selfreliance, health and quality of life in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province communities
Latest News
OTDF GDS Program
Mr. Kromnong attention to detail in cross checking finance documents
Feature story on a young Graduate Accountant – Abraham Kromnong
Introduction
How time flies by so quickly to have come this far despite the covid pandemic disruptions in 2021 when I first joined as a pioneer GDS Accountant at OTDF. For me it was all about gaining the exposure in a multi-cultural and modern setting business environment after my studies at UPNG’s new School of Business & Public Policy Building and also with my previous internship exposure in Port Moresby. The only organization that could offer this type of standard back home was Ok Tedi Mining Ltd. Surprisingly, it was a privilege to join OTDF as a pioneer GDS as it is a subsidiary of OTML. The most unique thing I will take away from this GDS training is from seeing firsthand different styles of leadership traits portrayed by various leaders within the organization to influence decision making both within the organization and out in the communities in order to make sure that we achieve our annual targets. In my view OTDF is one of the best organizational models in PNG’s context that can be replicated and implemented by other mineral and energy project developers in PNG to allow impacted communities to easily allocate their development funds to enable sustainable socio-economic development. This model reduces tedious and lengthy processes within governmental agencies that delays and infuriates local impacted communities on development ambitions.
“IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN? IF NOT US, THEN WHO?” – Former OTDF Board Chairman, Musje Werror
Highlights of my GDS
- CERTIFIED PRACTICING ACCOUNTANTS PNG
- Exams passed 2021 – 2022: Foundations of Accounting, Business Law, Taxation Law & Practice, Strategic Management Accounting, Advanced Audit and Assurance, Ethics and Governance.
- Exams to complete in 2023: Financial Risk Management and Financial Reporting.
- GDS ROTATIONS COMPLETED
- Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, External Audit
I am thankful for being continuously supported by OTDF to pursue my Certified Practicing Accounts (CPA) studies while doing my GDS within the two years of training. I have passed six CPA PNG Exams and this year I will be completing the remaining two (2) exams. My goal is to attain the designation of Certified Practicing Accountant by CPA PNG. Nevertheless, I believe that gaining experience at work is one thing but also having the drive to attain professional qualifications while young is an investment that will pay off in the long run and I will always be thankful to OTDF for giving me this opportunity.
My GDS training included rotating to different Finance sections in OTDF. I was able to perform roles in accounts payable, accounts receivable, general leger and external audit engagements. As a result of this training, it has given me the confidence to even perform different finance tasks independently.
The highlight for my training is seeing the complete financial process from recording of transactions all the way to producing monthly financial reports. As an Accountant most of the time you will work behind the scenes to move the organizations’ operational requirements.
As a result, I have learnt that teamwork and greater cooperation from everyone in the organization helps to achieve the overall objectives and annual targets.
About the OTDF GDS Program
The GDS Program is a first for OTDF that will provide on-the-job work experience for the trainees to learn and grow in their chosen field with the right mentoring.
It also provides a pathway for sponsored students to enter the workforce should they qualify.
The 2-year program initiated by the Executive Management was to recruit Western Province graduates to build human capacity in the province.
Three graduates will be offered an opportunity every 2 years to work in their respective fields within OTDF’s development programs.
The GDS program is a talent pipeline to satisfy current and future professional manpower, leadership and succession planning needs. It also addresses OTDF’s Vision, to enhance the quality of life and self-sustainability of Western Province communities by contributing to human capacity development.
Local women build learning centre
The community and development partners stand in front of the learning center
Women from a village in North Fly Western Province use their own community learning center (CLC) to host the first life skills program for women to learn basic sewing skills.
Seven years on, the Tmindemesuk women under Mrs Denis Albert Handy’s leadership, finally opened their semi-permanent Community Learning Center.
Mrs. Handy was the first president elected in 2015 for the Tmindemesuk Women’s Social Issues Concern Group (WSICG). Within five years, she registered the Tmindemesuk group and opened two bank accounts for the village women to use.
She said 76 women showed up with K20 each as contributions to build a community learning centre (CLC) that year.
Mrs Handy said the women were selling garden produce to raise money to buy their building materials.
She said the women received support from 20 local firms and organisations. The Tutuwe Ara Women & Children’s Association supplied paint and panel ribs sheets recently to complete the walling and finishing touches.
She said: “We ran our first training in September 2022 with 19 participants registering. We supplied materials and sewing machines. Our members sold meri blouses and men’s shirts at K50 and K20 each. I am grateful to one special participant among the trainees.”
As resident Ms. Doris Roy explains: “Thanks to Mrs. Handy, I was able to own a machine provided by the Tutuwe association and the support from our Tmindemesuk community women. I can sew and earn money for my children and myself”.
Ms Roy admitted she had been praying for sewing training for two years and now she has attended this training right at her doorstep. She explained: “Unlike baking or other skills training, sewing training is suitable for people like me living with a disability.”
Mrs Handy praised Ms. Doris Roy, a resident living with a disability, for completing the training. She said: “She can now sew meri blouses for herself and her daughter and also sew to sell at the village market”.
Association Vice President Serah Meroke explained that the Tutuwe Ara Women & Children’s Association exists to support its 29 villages. She said more support will be given should members pay their K200 registration affiliation fee to the association. This also includes WSICG’s commitment to taking ownership of the programs which they as executives bring into each of the 29 villages.
She said: “We have hosted life skills training of trainers (ToT) in baking, sewing and music for interested participants in each of the 29 villagers of upper, central and lower Tutuwe region. Nevertheless, the women should continue to share the knowledge they gained to the women in their respective villages.”
She added: “We will definitely come in and support the self-initiated programs. The women of Tmindemesuk Village were humbled to receive life skills in sewing meri blouses using the patterns they learnt to cut. The participants were trained by Tutuwe Ara association members and executives who had previously underwent sewing training facilitated by the Kiunga Technical Vocational Education Training Center (KTVETC) last year.
The association is from the Tutuwe Trust Region, one of eight Trust regions of the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA), a social arrangement between Ok Tedi Mining Limited and the mine impact communities.
Elementary schools receive much needed teaching aid
Teachers from selected schools receive their education kits
Educational kits were purchased for ten elementary schools in North Fly at K76,000 through counter funding between Tutuwe Ara Women and Children’s Association and the Nima Ara Women and Children’s Association of the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA).
The presentation and training was facilitated by Save the Children PNG (SCPNG) through the All Children Reading (ACR) Program.
Mrs. Joan Gabriel of Matkomnai Elementary School expressed appreciation for the support. She said: “Because we don’t have access to power, we are limited to the resources we have available, using projectors and useful technology to teach is a challenge for us rural schools, however now having this solar generator kit to charge and power the devices is what we teachers have longed for”.
Vice President for Tutuwe Ara Mrs. Serah Meroke spoke for the two associations, acknowledging the support from Save the Children and Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) for delivering this education kits.
Save the Children PNG ACR Project Manager, Hilton Kapal, advised teachers from the ten schools in North Fly District of the importance of the educational kits and its maintenance. The teachers were provided training on the eLearning resource materials contained in the mobile phones prior to receiving the educational kits.
According to Save the Children PNG Area Manager, Mr. Stanley Kumasimba, the mobile phones are installed with the latest technology of interactive learning and teaching materials containing videos and basic phonics presented in Tok Pisin and English.
Mr. Kumasimba advised the teachers that an evaluation would follow to monitor the project and also provide recommendations to the women associations if the project was viable and could be extended to more schools in the Western Province.
Program Services Sustainable Development Manager Mr. Andrew Mari encouraged the teachers to take good care of the hi-tech equipment and its accessories as they were expensive. He said: “The equipment is meant for the whole school to use. From experience, many projects meant for community benefit were personalised, mishandled and damaged.”
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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Executive Management
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Board Members
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Our Partners
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.
Newsletters
Each month, our OTDF media team creates a PDF newsletter that encapsulates the many activities and achievements by OTDF, partners and communities.
Contact Us
OTDF is committed to cooperation and integration of ideas from our community, therefore, we are always interested in what you have to say.