Achieving selfreliance, health and quality of life in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province communities

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Development partners declare Pukaduka 1 and Mutam Villages Open Defecation Free

Health, South Fly, Women & Youth Development

A major milestone in sanitation and community health was reached when two villages in Western Province’s South Fly and Delta Fly regions were declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) on the 29^th and 31^st of July 2025.Pukaduka 1 Village in the Suki Fly Gogo region and Mutam Village in the Dudi region of the CMCA Trust area have successfully eliminated open defecation through the combined efforts of communities, development partners, and government agencies.

The declarations were made in partnership with the South Fly Women and Children Association (SFW&CA), Western Provincial Health Authority (WPHA), and the Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF), as part of ongoing efforts to improve sanitation and hygiene across Western Province.

The events were celebrated with community members, local leaders, and key stakeholders, including WPHA Manager for Public Health Mr. Gagole Segela and South Fly District Development Authority representative and Chairman of the SF district WaSH Committee Mr. Joel Galuma.

The ODF declarations are part of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program implemented by OTDF as one of the programs Key Result Areas (KRA) in the OTDF Strategic Business Plan which aligns with the Western Provincial and District Health plan. The program aims to eliminate open defecation by encouraging safe sanitation practices, building household toilets, and running intensive hygiene awareness campaigns.

In both villages, achieving ODF status was the result of months of dedication and collaboration. OTDF and South Fly Women and Children Association (SFW&CA) facilitated Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) training, empowering villagers to take ownership of their sanitation needs. A combine population of 2,256 people were reached through the CLTS program. Every household now has a functioning toilet, and handwashing practices have become part of everyday life.

Speaking at Pukaduka 1, OTDF PSSD Manager Mr. Moses Kalup praised the determination of the villagers:

“This milestone shows what can be achieved when communities, local organisations, development partners, and government work together. Achieving ODF is not just about building toilets, it’s about protecting health, restoring dignity, and ensuring a cleaner future for our children and communities.”

WPHA’s Manager for Public Health, Mr. Gagole Sagella, also congratulated the villages, noting the broader public health impact:

“Ending open defecation breaks the cycle of preventable diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid. Your hard work will lead to healthier families and stronger communities. Today we are here to celebrate with you a new beginning.

We thank SFW&CA for being instrumental in driving this program and acknowledge OTDF for funding initiatives that change community perceptions. We hope to continue this partnership to deliver better health services across CMCA communities in Western Province.”

Mrs. Saridu Saudi (Women President) unveiling the ODF billboard for Pukaduka1 village

SFW&CA leaders expressed pride in the achievement and gratitude for OTDF’s continued support. Mrs. Saridu Saudi, President of Suki Fly Gogo W&CA, highlighted the significance of partnership in creating lasting change:

“Through this partnership with OTDF, we have been given ownership and a voice in deciding how resources are used for projects that directly benefit our communities. Thank you for bringing positive change to the lives of our people. We are more than grateful to OTDF for giving us a platform to be true development partners.”

With Pukaduka 1 and Mutam now Open Defecation Free, no one in these villages practices open defecation, a shift that improves hygiene, enhances and fosters community health, and protects the environment.

This success stands as an example to other communities across Western Province to embrace sanitation improvements and work towards ODF status.

OTDF remains committed to partnering with SFW&CA, the WPHA, and local government to ensure more villages achieve ODF, contributing to healthier, safer, and more resilient communities.

Kawok Village Celebrates Milestone in Community Housing

Infrastructure Development, Middle Fly

Kawok Village in Western Province is making strides in community development, with four new permanent houses built.

In a proud moment for Kawok village, located 40 minutes by dinghy along the Fly River from Kiunga town, four newly constructed three-bedroom homes were officially opened before a crowd of more than 300 villagers from Kawok and neighboring Moian.

The homes, funded entirely through the Kawok Village Development Funds (VDF) and the Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF), mark a significant milestone in the village’s journey towards sustainable community development. The PGK 700,000 project was delivered under a compensation agreement between the Kawok community and Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML).

Chairman of the Kawok Village Planning Committee (VPC), Mr. Simon Kobowut, said during the handover ceremony that the project is part of a long-term vision for the community, driven by the village’s 5-Year Development Plan.

“Infrastructure development is my key focus, I want my people to sleep under iron roof of a permanent house,” Mr. Kobowut said. “Our plan revolves around three major goals: access to clean water, decent housing, and off-grid electricity for the entire community. We will use this plan as our guide and continue to support one another in building our village.”

Villages witness the handover of a home to its owner

House owners Jackson John, Chris Bonney, Gill Michael, Velamina George thanked OTDF for the support in the project and most importantly the VPC chairman Simon Kobowut for the allocation of the homes to their families.

Ward 18 Councilor, Mr. Bondit Kembayong from nearby Moian village, commended the leadership of Mr. Kobowut for his perseverance in seeing the project through to completion.

“To the families receiving their new homes today – take pride in them,” he said. “Development doesn’t happen overnight. The longevity of any project depends on the care and commitment of the community.”

Trust Administrator Mr. Johanis Saferius reflected on the project’s journey, highlighting the strength built through collaboration.

“Delivering projects in remote communities comes with challenges but this is what gives these developments lasting value. He said OTDF also stepped in to manage variations beyond the original PGK 700,000 budget, ensuring the project’s success.”

Executive Manager of Corporate Services, Mr. Raul De Los Santos, called the new homes a legacy of leadership and a foundation for the future of Kawok village.

The housing project follows the recent success of another major initiative in Kawok — a water catchment facility that now supplies 45,000 liters of clean water daily. Five 9,000-liter tanks, installed by OTDF contractors, use gravity-fed flow to deliver water through 20 taps across the village.

This latest project is the second largest infrastructure investment in Kawok’s history and was once again overseen by the OTDF Infrastructure Development team, led by Project Team Leader Mr. Pascoe Sevese.

The people of Kawok are setting a powerful example of community-led development, transforming vision into reality.

Empowerment Through Personal Viability Training

Economic Development, Middle Fly, North Fly, Training, Women & Youth Development

The Wai Tri Women and Children Association funded a two-week Personal Viability (PV) Training ending with the graduation of 26 local participants on June 13, at the Kiunga Vocational Training Centre.

The participants originate from Middle Fly, Tutuwe, and Wai Tri regions enrolled in the training, with 26 proudly receiving Level 1 Certificates in Personal Viability from The Human Development Institute (HDI), marking a transformative journey in personal and community development. This training was facilitated by the Community Development Team of the Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) in partnership with HDI.

The Personal Viability program is widely recognised in Papua New Guinea as a life-skills and mindset transformation tool, equipping participants with practical competencies in personal discipline, self-reliance, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and goal setting. Participants spent two weeks immersed in 17 interactive group topics designed to challenge their thinking and help them build the foundation for long-term personal and economic growth.

The General Manager and lead Trainer Mr. Grand Wavine, shared a powerful message with the graduating class:

“This training has been about learning to think for yourself as an individual, to better improve yourself. With the 17 group topics, I continuously told you all to challenge yourselves to be a better version of yourselves.”

His words captured the essence of the training and empowerment from within, through reflection, courage, and discipline.

A Male participant from Ambaga village, Mr. Alexius Misimbi, in an interview shared his thoughts about this training, he said, “This training has opened my mind to do more with the little I have, to start small and have a goal and vision to work towards achieving big with my poultry project and small vanilla farm. With the small profit I earn from this, I will look at it positively and give enough room to grow financially. After this training, I am confident that I will have a renewed mindset and think differently, change my mindset and attitude personally to become a better version of myself”

Pictured is Miss Rhonda Karung sharing her story during an interview

Female participant, Miss Rhoda Karung from Ieran Village in an interview shared her story of the impact of this training, “I have co-managed my father’s trade store and through this training, I have learned the importance of customer service. It is my attitude toward the customers that matters, I must treat each customer as a priority and with respect. Also, to always challenge myself to become a better version of myself, to be self-reliant and less dependable on others for what I want and need.”

The participants, some of whom had never had access to formal education or training before, expressed newfound hope and confidence. The opportunity not only provided essential life skills but also fostered a sense of self-worth and direction among participants.

The Chairlady of the Wai Tri Women and Children Association, Mrs. Ruth Ukins applauded the efforts of both the participants and OTDF for the successful delivery of the training. She highlighted that this initiative is in line with the association’s vision to invest in people, particularly at the grassroots level, and to promote inclusive development:

“We believe empowering individuals with the right mindset and skills is key to unlocking sustainable development in our communities. This training is a beginning, we are confident these participants will go on to lead and inspire others in their villages.”

She also emphasised that this initiative is not a one-off, but part of a long term plan by the Association to promote human resource development within the Mine impacted areas.

The partnership between the Association and OTDF once again demonstrates the impact of working together for a shared vision, “improving the lives of the people in the CMCA region.” OTDF’s involvement through its Community Development team ensured the training was well-structured, culturally appropriate, and inclusive.

Mr. Moses Kalup – Manager Program Services Sustainable Development, during the graduation encouraged the graduates to receive their level 1 certificate with a vision for a sustainable future after mine closure. He said, “This training is to teach you sustainability in preparation for life after mine closure. To shift from a dependable state of mind to a self-reliance, it takes consistency and discipline to see change.”

“We are proud to support such initiatives, and even more proud of the participant who showed commitment and embraced the learning process. It is through partnerships like this that true change happens at the community level,” he added.

Following the success of this training, the Wai Tri Women and Children Association has indicated plans to sponsor additional training programs in the future, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship, leadership, and small-scale income generation initiatives. The hope is that graduates will form community groups, start small businesses, and pass on the knowledge and values learned to others.

For now, the newly certified graduates return to their homes with heads held high and a renewed sense of purpose, ready to become agents of change in their families and communities.