Australia supports a healthy, safe, and drug-free campaign for Wosepa Youth

Dicks Temeke, Chairman of the Wosepa Youth Group.

DICKS Temeke is the chairman of the Woisepa Youth Association and a well respected leader in his community.

He is also a firm supporter of the motto: “Big things in life start with small steps.” And that is exactly what he is doing with his youth group who are at the forefront of a health and village beautification project aimed at creating a healthy, safe, and drug-free community.

Temeke hopes this project will help tackle crime, general disorder and improve housing, water and sanitation for a happier and healthier village life.

Wosipa Village is located in Madang’s Usino Bundi District. The rural community is located along the Madang – Lae Highway surrounded by cocoa plantations owned by local people.

This community has faced unhappiness and fatal illness caused by unhygienic living conditions in the past and they are now adamant for change.

“Dispela projek i bungim olgeta, manmeri na yut bilong Woisepa long kamapim senis insait long ples na mi hamamas long stap insait long dispela wokabout. Na mi bilip olsem dispela em I ken kamapim ol gutpela sindaun insait long kommuniti na opim ol dua bilong ol narapla bikpela senis long kamap long stretim sindaun na sait blo mekim moni i kam insait long dispela kommuniti” said Temeke in pidin.

(“This project is uniting everyone from Woisepa, men, women and youth to make a difference and I am proud to be a part of this initiative. I believe that this will prepare us for an improved social and economic revitalisation for this community.”)

The youth group is mobilising citizens to get involved in general cleanness, proper disposal of rubbish, and building fences and shelters for livestock. Activities will also include building improved toilets in a bid to keep their rivers and streams clean.

The Australian Government is helping the group with K53,000 funding for new gardening tools and to assist them in delivering health and village beautification training for 30 participants (20 youths and 10 women) and food and nutrition training for 25 women and 5 men last year.

The funding was made available through a community development small grant scheme from the Australian Government’s Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen program.

Dicks Temeke(right) joined by SPSN’s Dapsy Yapuc(left) and other members of the Youth Group to display the tools purchased with the grant from the Australian Government.