Achieving selfreliance, health and quality of life in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province communities
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Ningerum locals encouraged to tap into agriculture
North Fly MP James Donald presenting the cheque to Mr Kuman while Mr Kaiyun looks on
Member for North Fly District Honorable James Donald wants local residents in Ningerum, along the Kiunga-Tabubil highway to venture into agricultural activities for long term benefits.
He said agriculture is the way forward for people in Western Province which would create more employment opportunities for locals and generate an income for individuals and families.
‘’Don’t think that the Ok Tedi mine will stay forever. In the event it closes, agriculture will sustain you.’’ he said.
Mr. Donald was speaking during the ground-breaking ceremony for the Digam to Hukim road maintenance on June 16th, which was also attended by Western Province Governor Taboi Awi Yoto, Provincial Administrator Robert Alphonse Kaiyun, and other ward presidents and dignitaries in Ningrum Station.
During the ceremony, the North Fly MP also presented an excavator and a new vehicle.
The Member also presented a cheque of K1.15 million to the Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) management to help drive agribusinesses in communities through the WestAgro Holdings Limited. The money would be used to purchase every one of the 115 North Fly District Wards a K10,000 share in Fly Vanilla.
Mr Donald while encouraging people to tap into agri-businesses, he said that in line with the Fly River Provincial Government’s four key areas of health, education, agriculture and enabling infrastructure, the province was capable of producing a variety of agricultural products, including vanilla, rice, cocoa and rubber.
OTDF’s executive manager for program services Eric Kuman while receiving the cheque thanked Mr Donald and said that WestAgro Holdings would use the money to support commercial vanilla development activities in Western Province.
St. Leo Matkomnai Primary School receives new bus
Tutuwe Women’s President (right) officially handing over the bus to the school principal (left)
A primary school in the North Fly District of Western Province was the proud recipient of a new school bus thanks to a local women and children association.
The St. Leo Matkomnai Primary School, located a few kilometers from Kiunga, received the new 25-seater bus on 18 June from the Tutuwe Ara Women and Children Association.
The association is one of 8 Women and Children Associations in the CMCA region including the Ok Tedi Mine Village Women and Children’s Association in the Star Mountains.
The bus, which cost K173, 256, will assist transport students, some of whom walk about 10 kilometers every day to attend classes.
Headmistress Mrs. Winnie Iwik in thanking the association and Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF), said the bus will also help the school with its administrative purposes and school excursions.
“When I travel on public PMV, I see children walking. I feel very sad for them. My heart cries for them but how can I help, so thank you Tutuwe Ara Women Children Association for donating the bus,’’ she said.
The primary school is centrally located in Matkomnai village, with elementary schools in nearby villages and surrounding communities, with increasing student enrollment each year.
The school has 310 students and 12 staff members, teaching classes from Grade 3 to Grade 8 respectively. Mrs. Iwik said the school is expecting increased student numbers next year due to more students attending the elementary schools in the surrounding communities.
OTDF assisted the association to purchase and the transport the bus from Port Moresby.
Women’s group open souvenir shop
The recently launched Western souvenir shop in Kiunga is set to become a window of opportunity for women in the North Fly District and Western Province.
Nupmo Women’s Investment Limited (NWIL), the business arm established by Nupmo Women and Children’s Association is keen to advance economic opportunities for women, youths and children in partnership with OTDF.
Located inside Cassowary Hotel, the souvenir shop will sell traditional hand-crafted artefacts made by locals such as the popular Suki baskets, Awin and Yongom tulip bilums among other items.
The local women took the initiative to create this revenue-generating opportunity after gaining basic skills through the financial literacy training organized by the OTDF Business Development Team in mid-2019.
OTDF’s Executive Manager for Program Services Mr Eric Kuman said, “Such initiatives through OTDF has paved way for local women to invest and be self-reliant and allows them to contribute meaningfully to the rural communities in Western Province.
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