Achieving selfreliance, health and quality of life in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province communities
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Investment agreement signed by Ok Tedi Mine Villages Women and Childrens’ Association
Development partners during the handover ceremony at Tabubil Womens’ Resource Centre.
Women and Childrens’ Association from the Six Mine villages in the Star Mountain signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to secure their investment on Friday 21 October in Tabubil.
The signing ceremony between Ok Tedi Mine Villages Women and Children’s Association (OKMVWCA) and Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) starts the lease of a Toyota Land Cruiser owned by the association’s registered investment company known as Ok Tedi Wanangman Aptil Investment Limited (OKWAIL). The Company was registered with the Investment Promotion Authority on 24th August 2021.
The revenue generated from this agreement goes into the investment account to support the association after mine closure.
OKMVWCA Vice President Mrs. Lulu Bill said this ceremony was her first to witness and credit goes to the hard work and support of the association members to the executives both past and present. She said: “This is the first time for the women of Star Mountains to have an investment business and also for me to experience such an occasion; I take this opportunity to thank you all.”
Company Director and chairlady for the Kavorabip village, Mrs. Christine Babona representing the company said: “We the women from the six mine villages, have watched over the years and we need to do more to help ourselves as mine closure approaches. Apart from this vehicle lease we will look into sustainable investment ventures to support the association after mine closure.”
Business Development support continues
OTDF Business Development (BD) Program team Leader Lesley Timothy told the association executives, members and directors that OTDF will meet all operational cost of the vehicle and pay full monthly payments to ensure profitability.
OTDF Executive Manager Program Services Mr. Eric Kuman commended the women of the mine villages for working closely with OTDF and the Business Development Team. He said this signing ceremony is a milestone and added: “Business is about sacrifice, you have to invest back in the business you created.
You have to have something to fall back on, this is an opportunity to invest, commit your resource and invest outside of the province, OTDF will continue to support you to do business, I am proud of you.”
Mr. Kuman said OTDF BD team will support the women entrepreneurs, with training and administrative assistance. “OTDF is determined to empower you for future success.”
He said so far the OTDF BD team manages nine investment companies with directorship by the women executives of the respective Associations from the CMCA. Now the six mine villages adds to the list of investment companies owned and operated by Women & Children’s Associations.
WaSH Program to benefit CMCA Villages
The Pikinini Sports program launched at Gigwa Primary School, Suki, South Fly
Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) through stakeholder consultations developed a Water Sanitation & Hygiene (WaSH) Program in 2021, aligning with the national governments WaSH Policy 2015-2030, for the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) Trust regions of the Western Province.
Pukaduka 1 village celebrated the launching of the WaSH program on 12th October 2022, jointly funded by the Women & Children Associations in the CMCA Trust regions in partnership with OTDF.
16 villages in the Suki Fly Gogo Trust region of South Fly are set to benefit from the program with Middle Fly to follow. The OTDF WaSH Coordinator Michael Koini said the team have started with the development of community mobilisation programs to empower villagers with proper hygiene practices using visual aids and the construction of ventilated improved latrines (VIP Latrines). This included hand washing facilities made possible by building RUS Pumps. A simple device made from PVC pipes, which works like a bicycle pump. On the upstroke, water is sucked into the space between the two valves, on the downstroke; water is forced up the centre pipe. The technology can be applied anywhere the water-table is less than 6m depth.
Women leader Mrs. Nancy Isikini while appreciating the launch of the program and the innovative RUS pump technology said her community in Suki will promote the WaSH program going forward. She said: “OTDF, well done, you have heard the cry of the women and as a mother cares for her child, I will do so with this WaSH program. I urge our communities to support the Suki Fly Gogo Women & Children Association to deliver development programs and take ownership of projects to support sustainability.”
OTDF WaSH – Pikinini Sports Launched
In line with the launching, the Pikinini WaSH Program rolled out on the 13th October at Gigwa Primary School, celebrating “Hand Wash Day.” The WaSH message in maintaining proper sanitation health and hygiene was promoted through sports. Coordinator for the OTDF Community Development Program Mr. Polang Tommy said, “Children learn through playing and the idea of integrating WaSH into pikinini sports is a new approach by the WaSH program.”
Present to support the WaSH program were invited guests from World Vision PNG, the LLG representatives, the District Administration, Women & Children Association Executives, the lower Suki Fly Gogo communities and the OTDF management and staff.
OTDF Executive Manager Program Services Mr. Eric Kuman said: “The project is expected to impact the quality of life of women, men and children by supporting a healthier and safer living environment and lifestyle.”
Community Learning Centers launched
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.
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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Western Province
North Fly District
Middle Fly District
South Fly District
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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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