With assistance from the Australian aid program, they’re turning a former battlefield located in the Tente 2 Council Ward, into rich agriculture plots, a fertile symbol of hope and reconciliation for those living in communities still recovering from a tragic outbreak of tribal violence in 2001.
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| Chairperson for the Karinz Womne’s Association, Regina Momei hands over their 10 percent contribution for the project, to Harry Gubala SPSN Field Cordinatior Highlands Region. |
The women from the Karinz, Upper and Mendi Urban Local Level Governments call themselves “Southern Highlands Women’s Association for Peace and Development”. They have received K54,081 from Australia to educate women on farming techniques and income generation opportunities; skills which empower women to support and provide for their families.
Regina Momei, is the chairperson of the Karinz women’s association, a grandmother who, against all odds, is determined to help her community re-establish its roots and reap the benefits of a happier, safer, more prosperous future.
She says in tok pisin: “Taim ol givim mi president position plenti lain bin tok “ lapun meri ya nogat save na em ino inap wok, ol tok, na mi bin raitim pas blo kisim projek i go lo AusAID na ol givim projeck na mi hamamas. Mipla meri, mipla save mekim gaden, karim pikinini na lukatim man insait long ples so dispel projek em bai mi lukatim. AusAID givim mi moni em bai mi mekim gaden, salim kaikai na kisim moni taim em bai mi baim skull fi, mi baim sop, bipo mi no sindaun olsem, bai mi senism laif blo mi. Bai mi wokim gaden, lukatim pik na kakaruk , moni igo bikpela em bai mi wokim wok yet wantaim olgeta meri blo mi lo karinz em bai mipela lukatim dispel projek na sindaun gud. Mi tok tenku lo ol pipol blo Australia”.
(“When I first became president of the group, many people criticized my election. They said: “she’s an old woman and she is illiterate and how will she get the job done?” but I wrote to AusAID and filled out the Expression of Interest form seeking grant funding and today I am happy to be receiving this support. Women can make gardens, bear children and look after our husbands in our villages; in the same way I will look after this project. With the funding from AusAID, I will be able to grow and sell vegetables which will allow me to pay for necessities like soap and pay for school fees. This will help change my life and enable me to continue work on this project with the support of the women from Karinz association. I want to thank the people of Australia for giving me the opportunity to change lives”.)
The project was a launched during a colorful singsing ceremony attended by the Provincial Administrator Ungia Kembo along with other dignitaries from the province and a happy throng of association members, celebrating the life changing gift they’ve been given by the people of Australia.
Karinz Women’s Association is amongst nine community based organizations that will benefit from a total funding of K620, 308 from Australia, for a range of valuable community development projects in Southern Highlands Province. These grants have been made available through the ‘Community Development Small Grants Scheme’ of Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen (SPSN).
Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen is a democratic governance program implemented as a partnership between the Governments of Papua New Guinea and Australia and is funded by AusAID.
Through SPSN, Australia provides grants and capacity building to organisations promoting gender equality and improving access to health, education and disability services.
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| Beneficiaries of the Karinz Project welcome delegates at the signing ceremony. The group will receive K54, 081 from Australia to educate women on farming techniques and income generating opportunities. |
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