Help for remote communities in Gulf Province

Fr Gambia (right) and representatives from the youth group
display their Grant Agreement

Nine Gulf Province communities will improve the education, health and livelihoods of their people with Australian support of K487,800 for their development projects.

The communities received the grants through the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen Program, a partnership between the Governments of Papua New Guinea and Australia that is funded by AusAID.

The Head of Australian Aid in PNG, Stuart Schaefer, said the communities had developed ideas including teacher training, refurbishment of an aid post, income generation opportunities for women and a sawmill project that would make a difference for the everyday lives of people.

“They are taking ownership of their own development, building partnerships and are investing in these projects too by contributing 10 per cent of the total costs,” Mr Schaefer said.

Australia will provide K73, 568 to the remote community of Bema, 158 km north east of Kerema, to help youths to mill and sell timber and renovate buildings such as a health centre, classrooms and staff houses.

Bema has no direct road link and is only accessible by plane and a two-and-a-half hour walk.

Chairman of the Bema Parish community, Father Andrew Gambu, said the project would create opportunities for locals to generate income from locally grown timber being sold at an affordable price.

Father Gambu said the project would also help youths who initiated the idea to be role models in the community.

“This project is not only building and renovating structures, it is an opportunity to build and mend the lives of many people in this remote and usually forgotten community,” Father Andrew said.

Through the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen program, Australia supports communities and their initiatives with a priority on improving health, education and disability services and promoting gender equality.

“These projects demonstrate Australia’s commitment to fostering partnerships between the PNG Government, civil society and communities to improve services at the village and district level,” Mr Schaefer said.

Other recipients of the Gulf Province grants are:

• Community Partner Group (K62,700) for a civic awareness workshop on natural resource management and basic rights law to be facilitated by the non-government organisation, Centre for Environmental Law Centre.
• Diocese of Kerema Catholic Education Service (K57,600) for elementary school teacher training.
• Koravake Ward 7 Development Committee (K84,800) for a poultry project that will provide income generation opportunities for women and alternative meat options for their families.
• Lepokela Board of Management (K77,500) for an elementary school classroom aimed at promoting early childhood learning.
• Meii Salvation Army Home League (K85,500) for an empowerment project that will provide cooking and sewing skills for the women in Meii village.
• Nawi Hibuka Women’s group (K36,200) for a poultry project that will provide income generation opportunities for women.
• Poliki Youth Group (K91,200) for the refurbishment of a community aid post for improved health care.
• Pukari Ward Development Committee (K98,100) for a water supply, health, sanitation and hygiene project.

Women from the Meii Women's Empowerement Project during a sewing session.

The groups received the grants from SPSN Deputy Program Director Trevor Ole and Gulf Province Deputy Administrator Emanuel Xavier at the Kerema Catholic Diocese on 31 June 2013.