New resource centre for rural Chimbu women

GATHERED at the foothills of Mt Wilhelm, women from the KGWAN Eco-Habitat Inc wore vivid coloured face paint and feathers for the official opening of the Women’s Resource Centre in the Kundiawa-Gembogl district, Chimbu Province on February 19, 2014.

They broke into jubilant chants when the ribbons were cut to officially open the building. These women are proud recipients of a new building that may change their lives forever.

They are also equally delighted that funding for this building has come from the Australian Government through the Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen program’s community grant development scheme.

Peter Koima, chairperson of the KGWAN association said, “now that the centre is open, we know that it will provide an opportunity for women to gain more training to increase their knowledge and skills. It will improve literacy rates and promote self reliance for many. This is an opportunity for women and other vulnerable groups to contribute to improving lives and promoting community development.”

SPSN provided a grant of K72,700 to KGWAN Eco-Habitat Inc to build the Resource Centre that will now house an office space for the group and provide an avenue for various training sessions aimed at empowering gender equality and capacity building opportunities for more than 300 women.

The project is located at the foot of PNG’s highest mountain, Mt. Wilhelm, which is approximately 2 hours drive from Kundiawa town and is about 1 and half hours walk up to the site at Danbagl Village.

KGWAN Eco-Habitat Inc is made up people from the clans Kengaglku, Gereglkane and Wandeke, each from the Inaugl tribe in the Mitnande LLG.