Achieving selfreliance, health and quality of life in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province communities
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Financial Literacy encouraged
BSP facilitating the Financial Literacy training to Tutuwe Ara members at Matkomnai Community Learning Center
Eighty participants from four trust regions of the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) completed training in banking education and provided with BSP Finance Literacy Training
certificates recognised by the Bank of Papua New Guinea.
The 76 women who attended were chair ladies and representatives from Nupmo, Tutuwe, Nima Ara, and Middle Fly Women & Children’s Associations. Four interested men also attended.
Mrs Catherine Wanmut on training at Bige said she had learnt a lot and appreciated the knowledge in savings and budgeting gained from the BSP team. She said: “I have always wanted to attend a training and when given this opportunity, I took it. We mothers struggle to save, we sell garden produce and items of choice each day, but we do not save the income generated because of our obligations. Now that I have gained this knowledge, I can save and budget to get a loan, which I will use to increase my business.”
Banking knowledge vital to savings
BSP Kiunga Branch Manager Reuben Attai (middle) and Mr. Philip course trainer, both congratulate Mrs. Morea Sika from Menumsore
BSP Kiunga Branch Manager Reuben Attai told the participants that knowing how to save and spend money was a routine that required personal control over money.
He told the participants that the training should equip them with a better understanding of why banking services exist and how to use the knowledge to their gain, now and into the future.
He said his dedicated teams carry out banking education or financial literacy training in the communities before assisting customers open accounts at BSP Kiunga. According to Business
Development Officer Ms Dau Tapie, over 218 participants have benefited from banking education in the province since its inception in 2019 in partnership with BSP.
The program is an initiative of the OTDF in partnership with BSP Kiunga branch staff who facilitate the training focused on saving, budgeting, and business development skills.
Training partnership renewed
KTVETC Manageress Mrs Helen. Gire. Dupnai addressing the guests during the MoA signing
Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF), Kiunga Technical Vocational Education Training Center (KTVETC), and nine CMCA Women & Children’s Associations renewed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to provide
Life Skills Training.
The MoA signed on 23 November in Kiunga allows for life skills training to continue.
To support community development in the footprint villages of Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML), OTDF first approached KTVETC in 2020 to commence this program with funding from the North and Middle Fly women & children’s associations. This renewal of the agreement now extends the program reach to South Fly from 2023 to 2025.
According to Program Services Sustainable Development Manager Mr Andrew Mari, it is a win-win arrangement with KTVETC, a nationally recognised institution.
KTVETC Manageress Mrs Helen Gire Dupnai was instrumental in rolling out life skills programs under the initial MoA and this renewal marks a milestone achievement as they prepare to run training in the South Fly. “Since the initial signing, the KTVETC is proud to have trained over 900 participants in short courses in personal viability, sewing, carpentry, cooking, baking, and agriculture.”
Monitoring of projects vital
Development partners renew the agreement for life skills program
Middle Fly Women and Children President, Ms Charlotte Mathews, representing the eight sister associations thanked KTVETC and the development partner for transferring the life skills to the women and youths of the CMCA. “Thank you OTDF and thanks KTVETC. Our women sew to wear today, we sew clothes, we bake and we sell to earn money to support our families, we are empowered”.
OTDF CEO said the numbers speak for themselves. “The task ahead for OTDF is to strengthen monitoring and evaluation to determine the impact of this program.
OTDF is a delivery vehicle and will continue to partner with CMCA communities and service providers to facilitate development”.
Women leaders, KTVETC staff, community representatives, and OTDF Executive management were present to witness the ceremony.
OTDF Scholarship Program highlight
Shimron Guimben (R) invigilates the FODE exams in Tabubil
Shimron Guimben – Graduate Teacher
A local man from Western Province is providing his service to his people at no cost.
Mr Shimron Guimben is currently the Flexible Open Distance Education (FODE)Tutor with Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) Community Education Services (CES) Program
His been providing support to students in Tabubil since August this year.
As a recipient of the CMCA scholarship support, he believes in giving back to his community.
Shimron graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in teaching, majoring in Science and Mathematics from the University of Goroka.
“I graduated on the 19th of April this year and was given the opportunity by OTDF CES program to provide tutorial support to the FODE and Adult Matriculation (AM) learners in Tabubil.”
Giving back to the community
His motto in life is to serve while believing in an educated society. “I want to thank my sponsors, the Wai Tri and Tutuwe Trust through OTDF, for the scholarship support over the four years of my studies.
I want to give back to my people my service as a tutor while awaiting my posting from the Department of Education. Playing a leadership role as the President for the Fly River Students Association while at university is the driving force in with my career.”
Shimron is part of a group of over 250 students from Western who attended tertiary institutions across the country sponsored under OTDF in 2017.
The scholarship program is funded by the nine CMCA Trusts while PAD is under OTML at a cost of K2.69 million for both new and continuing students and administered by OTDF.
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.