Achieving selfreliance, health and quality of life in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province communities
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Mine Village women elect new Association president
Association members participate in the elections at the Star Mountain Women’s Association Resource Center
A special Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on Monday 19th December by the six Mine Village Women and Children’s Association members to elect a new president.
The position was left vacant for a while after an administrative decision to dismiss the president on disciplinary grounds.
The special AGM comprising the Ok Tedi Mine Village Women and Children’s Association (OTMVWCA) executives, Chairladies from the six Women’s Social Issues Concern Group (WSICG) and their committee executives met in Tabubil to elect a president.
The Association Secretary Mrs Alice Mumuyong was nominated by Vice President Mrs Lulu Bill, who willingly accepted the nomination.
Mrs Mumuyong as the only nominee was declared President unopposed by the presiding officials from the Star Mountains Local Level Government (SMLLG) who supervised the election.
Mrs Mumuyong was the Secretary for four years, and as the newly elected president, will hold office for the next two years before the next elections. She has been a community development worker for almost 10 years.
As a strong leader, Mrs Mumuyong balances her leadership duties with her family responsibilities. “My work takes me away from my family, but I have a very supportive husband who cares for our children while I am doing community work, and I am grateful to him for his support.”
She said she will lead with a focus to deliver on the five year Women and Children Action Plan.
Mrs Mumuyong addresses the women as the President elect thanking them for their confidence in her leadership
With the secretary’s position vacant, another election followed for members to elect a new Secretary.
Mrs Kwil Sumengim was elected as the new Secretary for the Association.
Mrs Sumengim thanked the women for their confidence in her and she pledged her support to the Association in her new role.
OTDF Program Services Sustainable Development Manager Mr Andrew Mari chaired the election process at the Star Mountain Women’s Association Resource Center in Tabubil.
He encouraged the women leaders to work together and support the association executives to deliver their planned activities. He also reminded the executives and committee members to be responsible leaders in the community: “The mine will be gone, take lead now and plan for the future. Your actions will reflect who you are and determine the communities trust in you. Stand firm and always put the interest of your members first in decision making for the good of your communities and your children.”
OTDF 2023 Maritime Cadet Scholarship Awarded
Ms. Jacklyn Jeremiah receives her acceptance letter presented by OTDF on behalf of the PNG Maritime College
Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) presented four scholarship recipients their acceptance letters under the Maritime Cadetship Program on Friday 16 December 2022.
From the four cadets, 22-year-old Jacklyn Jeremiah from Timoknai village North Awin was selected to be a Deck Cadet. Jacklyn is the first female from her family and village to be offered such an opportunity.
Ms Jeremiah said her family was overwhelmed after receiving news of her acceptance. She, along with three male counterparts, were chosen from over two hundred applicants. She said: “It’s a male-dominated field, but I will try my best to make my family and province proud by one day captaining a ship along the Fly River.”
Engine Cadet Fittler Mulake on behalf of the four cadets thanked OTDF and reiterated that having been out of school for two years was a challenge and given this opportunity: “I will give my best and make my family, my sponsors and Western Province proud when working on ship that services the Fly River”.
According to Program Services Sustainable Manger Mr Andrew Mari, the Maritime Cadet Program is open to any eligible person from Western Province.
He mentioned that these four sponsored cadets had to meet strict criteria and conditions before they were accepted. He continued:” The selection process was independently completed by the PNG Maritime College after an entry test was conducted.”
L-R Shemila Kasi OTDF Scholarship Officer, Jacklyn Jeremiah, Apolonarish Wilson, Fittler Mulake, Sailes Waimona, OTDF PSSD Manager Andrew Mari
The four successful candidates (2 Engine Cadets and 2 Deck Cadets) will have the opportunity to build their careers in the maritime industry, enhance interpersonal skills, establish professional networks and expand on career goals.
He said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, today after signing your offer letters, I encourage you to be ambassadors of your districts in Western Province, your families, and OTDF. Give your best and aim high. ”
They will enroll at the Maritime College in Madang next year (2023). The Program was initiated in 2013 with the vision to increase Ok Tedi Mining Limited’s educational support footprint in Western Province.
After two years in college, they will undergo sea time experience with P&O on OTML vessels as part of the long-term investment to develop Marine Captains and Engineers.
This scholarship program is delivered in partnership with P&O Services (PNG) Ltd.
North Fly Women learn about Community Development work
OTDF PSSD Manager Andrew Mari presents Mrs Ruth Ukin, Nima Ara Women & Children Association President her CDW certificate
Women Leaders from five Women and Children Associations attended two weeks of comprehensive training on the Papua New Guinea National Standards for Community Development Workers Training (CDW) in Tabubil, Star Mountain LLG of Western Province.
Mrs Alice Mumuyong an Executive for the Ok Tedi Mine Village Women and Children’s Association said this training is a first and a positive step for them. She said: “After going through the core elements of CDW Training, it has shown that, when we go into our communities, we will definitely need to change our approach. The CDW training has clearly shown that we have to do things differently.”
Ms Eve Narok Secretary for the Tutuwe Ara Women and Children’s Association said: “I am empowered to do my work in the community”.
Compliance for CD workers
CDW lead trainer Ms Bala Tedumo facilitating a session in Tabubil
Lead trainer Ms Bala Tedumo said this training is mandatory for any development organisation or community development worker to undergo in order to work in a community. Similarly, it gives community leaders the compliance standards to perform their duties as mandated leaders chosen by their respective communities.
She said it gives the leaders a sense of ownership to take lead of development in their communities. “These women executives automatically fall into the category of CDW workers due to the line of work they’ve been doing”.
Ms Tedumo added that the course has different sets of topics covering eight core units in Conducting Community Training and Awareness, Report Writing and Steps in Community Entry and Consultations.
She said: “Due to time limitation, the two weeks training covered the elements of the eight core units, which basically touches on the approaches on how to enter a community to do consultations. The rest of the core units will be delivered next year (2023).
The leaders and executives who attended have been working at the community level, but needed capacity building in the steps taken to enter any community, even theirs, and how to start community consultations with ease”.
Mr Kuam Senawai, OTML Manager for Community Relations and OTDF Board Director, officially closed the training.
The training is an initiative of Ok Tedi Development Foundation Community Development Program under the Program Services Sustainable Development.
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.
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Middle Fly District
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