Author

Fidelis Sukina

Browsing
Health

Callan Services Community Based Rehabilitation Volunteer

By

Callan Services PNG has many volunteers that help with their work. The Network of Callan Services is the largest provider of services to children and adults with disabilities in Papua New Guinea.

With their aim to help improve the lives of People living with disabilities, the Callan Services relies heavily on volunteers.

Volunteer work involves a lot of time and commitment, Michael Eran is a Community Based Rehabilitation Volunteer and works with the Callan Services in Mingende Chimbu Province.

He started training to be a Community Based Rehabilitation Volunteer in 2010 and in 2011 started as a volunteer.

“2010 I underwent training and in 2011 I received the certificate to work as a Community Based Rehabilitation Volunteer. It’s been 13 years now working for this Organization,” Michael Eran said.

His work extends to all who need the services provided by Callan Services PNG and its international partners, he works with different groups of individuals living with disabilities, which includes the blind and other various disability patients.

Michael said one of his most satisfying role as part of his volunteer work is rehabilitating paraplegics, those who are paralyzed.

“We have various people living with disability in the community, and each of them have specific Programs for their rehabilitation, to help them to be more independent, so we schedule what devices to use also what exercises they need to do, to help improve their mobility as well,” Eran said.

He said those who seek help with Callan Services, he also assesses and refers them to specialists.

Michael says he doesn’t expect much praise and recognition towards his volunteer work, he says he often gets assistance from his patients but doesn’t expect much overall. He is happy when those in his care are doing well.

“Sometimes if those I help are able to assist me in any way possible they do. They are always appreciative of the work I do to help them, especially when they get some independence in their movement and show signs of improvement,” Eran said.

Related Story: https://insidepng.com/cataract-eye-surgery-in-rural-papua-new-guinea-250124/

Keep Reading
By
News

West Papua Community Told Not to Raise Flag

By

The West Papua Community in Port Moresby that attended a West Papua family Day Organized with the support of Governor of the National Capital District Powes Parkop, were warned by Police not to raise the Morning Star Flag that has been the symbol for West Papua’s want for Self Determination.

Frank Makanuey a Community Leader within the West Papua Community in Port Moresby was present at the West Papua Family Day celebrations and he and others Present were not too pleased when Police told them they were not allowed to raise the West Papua Morning star flag.

For West Papuans in Indonesia that do fly the West Papua Flag they are arrested for treason, the flag was first raised on the 1st of December in 1961 West Papuans used the flag to represent their nationhood to the world, translating their desires for freedom and self-government into a form made clear to the world and to the United Nations.

The Family Day was held at the Drill Hall at the University of Papua New Guinea, on Saturday and Governor of NCD Powes Parkop was the Guest Speaker during the event, the day served as a gathering of the West Papua Community, in Port Moresby to Promote and uphold their values and heritage.

Related: https://insidepng.com/west-papuans-in-port-moresby-host-family-day/

Keep Reading
By
Arts & Culture

West Papuans in Port Moresby Host Family Day

By
West Papuan Family Day

Those with West Papuan Heritage, their families and supporters of the Liberation of West Papua, gathered in Port Moresby, on Saturday, for a West Papua Family day.

The day was marked with a walk within the University of Papua New Guinea Campus, with families taking part in the walk, Governor of the National Capital District Powes Parkop who has been a long time supporter for the self determination of West Papua took part in the days activities.

The family day was held at the UPNG Drill Hall and was organized with the support of Governor Powes Parkop, the walk culminated into a session of speeches and a day filled with families and individuals sharing in the Culture and food of their West Papua heritage.

Powes Parkop has his links back to West Papua Indonesia through his grand parents, he said he has been a strong supporter for the Self Determination of West Papua since his high school days.

Papua New Guinea being the closest neighbor to Indonesia and sharing the Border with West Papua, those living in diaspora and have become citizens of Papua New Guinea, always hope the best for their families that still live in Indonesia, and as part of diplomatic talks between the two nations of PNG and Indonesia, most feel that PNG must continue to address issues that affect the people of West Papua.

Governor Parkop says that he is ready to Visit Indonesia once a PNG Delegation is confirmed to Visit.

Indonesia is expected to hold its elections in the coming weeks and most in Indonesia and outside of the region, believe that there should be a boycott of the elections by those indigenous to West Papua.

Related: https://insidepng.com/marape-clears-statement/

Keep Reading
By
Health

Callan Services Provide Cataract Eye Surgery in Rural Papua New Guinea

By
Callan Services provide Cataract Surgery for Rural Papua New Guinea

On the 11th to the 18th of November in 2023 Callan Services with the support of donor partners, including Christian Blind Mission, held a successful, one week Cataract eye surgery program in Mingende Chimbu Province.

Cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye (the clear part of the eye that helps to focus light). Cataracts are very common as you get older.

Callan services in the Mingende area of Chimbu Province, have been hosting the surgery for the past almost 20 years as an annual program.

Hopeful Cataract patients at Mingende awaiting evaluation.

The surgery is most sought after and many from all the provinces in the Highlands region make the pilgrimage to Mingende to get the corrective eye surgery.

With the rugged terrain across Papua New Guinea many in the rural highlands struggle to make their way to the hospital for the surgery.

The Callan services Program Coordinator in Mingende, Angela Mua in Mingende said some of these patients are carried from their villagers by relatives and Volunteers.

Areas in Chimbu Province are mountainous and some of the patients are carried in to the resource center.

So they sometimes don’t have a place to stay so we accommodate them at our resource center, so we have to charge fees to these patients, but we collect the fees and it helps us to feed the patients and their Guardians.

A program like the cataract eye surgery is very expensive, and Callan Services PNG are always grateful for the support from donor partners.

Mua mentioned that one of their longtime partners Christian Blind Mission.

“Christian Blind Mission (CBM) is our main donor to the resource center since 2002, for activities administration and wages for staff,” Mua said

Doctors are flown in for the surgery while the support staff from the various eye clinics in the Highlands region.

Damian Sungu the Officer In Charge (OIC) of the Goroka Eye Clinic said they were here to help with the surgery, he himself has been part of the program since its inception.

“Cataract is like a prison, because the patients are left to stay at home and they cannot do much, so we thank our Community Based Rehabilitation teams, who move around in the Villages through some of the most toughest terrains, just to look for these men and women who suffer from Cataract, they do the initial screening to determine the cataract and later on refer them for surgery,” Sungu said

The week long program was a huge success with more than a 100 patients going in for surgery, in the past it was an all expatriate team of Doctors which led the surgery but in the past few years it has been an all Papua New Guinean team delivering the success of the cataract eye surgery in Mingende Chimbu Province.

Matthew Aeno Mala, a patient from Eastern Highlands province made the trip to Mingende, after the success of his eye surgery he was pleased with the results and praised all that made it possible for the week long program that helped many not only to restore their vision but to get back their lives.

“I thank Callan Services PNG for the surgery, I maybe in my 60s but I still can contribute to society and also work for myself, I know I am a useful member of my community,” Aeno Mala said

Keep Reading
By
Climate Change

Mangrove Project for Hansa Bay Area

By
Mangrove Project

Climate Change and the rise in sea level is very concerning, the devastation caused to the Coast line is inevitable. The rural population in Papua New Guinea cannot cope with the loss of their coastline and the threat to their eco system.

But what can Papua New Guineans do but take the lead in mitigating the effects of climate change? The Hansa bay area in Bogia District Madang Province is losing it’s coast line and the inhabitants are struggling to keep their marine eco system intact for future generations.

Hamex Rupia is from Southern Highlands Province but has built a livelihood and found a home in the Hanasa Bay area, along Bogia District in Madang Province. He has become a part of the community and he is one of the members in the community that has stood up to help mitigate the effects of climate change.

His organization, GTEN Fundraiser Network Inc, is leading the way in the Hansa Bay mangrove nursery and planting. He says communities have taken the initiative to start planting mangroves to help protect their coastline from the rising tides.

Mangroves provide natural infrastructure to help protect nearby populated areas by reducing erosion and absorbing storm surge impacts during extreme weather events. They are also important to the ecosystem as their dense roots help bind and build soils.

Hamex and his community through the GEF Small Grants funding administered by the UNDP, started a nursery of mangrove plants, up to 10,000 mangrove plants are at their green house, and are slowly maturing. Hamex says they will wait for the second part of funding before they can do transplanting of the mangrove plants.

The community has struggled to get a decent catch close to their coastline, and are hoping for changes when the mangrove project is in full swing. They hope more fish will come thanks to the Mangroves that will cover the coastline.

There are also war relics and burial sites from World War II, which the community say has been under threat by rising sea levels. Hamex said some of the war relics have been destroyed by the sea. The community sees this as a Eco Tourism project. Hamex added that the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority has funded restoration of some of the War relics in the Hansa Bay area.

Hamex says they look to benefit from changes in their eco system as well in future.

Keep Reading
By
Climate Change

Community Based Organizations get Capacity Building Training

By
Capacity Building Training

Environment Conservation is important in the modern age, with the effects of climate change, due to the extractive industry, industrialization and population growth, our natural environment is kept under stress.

Despite the challenges faced by rural Papua New Guinea, there are concerned citizens who see the need to take part in environmental conservation efforts.

The (GEF) Small Grants program which is implemented by the United Nations Development Program. It provides grants of up to 50,000 USD, directly to CSOs and community-based organizations (CBO’s). This is for grantees to undertake local projects that contribute to the global environment while generating sustainable livelihoods.

Local NGOs in Papua New Guinea that receive these grants go through basic capacity building. Which includes training in leadership and project management. This will help these small Community Based Organizations to manage funding and also in future be well equipped to apply for further funding to sustain their projects.

The Capacity training for Southern, Momase and the NGI regions was held in Port Moresby. This was facilitated by Conservation Forum PNG, with John Ericho as the facilitator.

Whilst the patrons of these projects are experienced in their capacity to drive their projects forward, they still need further training especially in management and sourcing further funding for project longevity. That’s why the one week training held in Port Moresby was important.

John added that there was a host of successful projects. Which included, Carbon Trading, Mangrove Planting and Coral conservation just to name a few. These projects are run by community based organizations that involve the whole community working together.

The team even visited a site where there is a coral rehabilitation program. The project is called Hiri Coral and it is located in the Tubusereia area of Central Province along the Motuan Coastline.

John Ericho says he believes that it is the community themselves that are responsible for conservation. He added that they own the resources and decide how to use it and if whether or not they want to take part in environment conservation as well.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/carbon-trading-benefitting-communities/

Keep Reading
By
Environment

Community Awareness on Climate Change

By
Climate Change Awareness

The Change in weather pattern, where there is high rainfall in a short period of time and prolonged drought, has caused a lot of communities in Papua New Guinea to suffer. This is all attributed to climate change and the shift in global weather patterns.

Communities across the world including Papua New Guinea, are forced to adapt to this new weather phenomenon. Rural communities in Papua New Guinea often lack the capacity to mitigate the outcomes caused by Climate Change.

An initiative by the PNG university of Natural Resources and Environment, as part of their community outreach under the Kairak Center for sustainable rural development, is the Community Empowerment for Climate Change for farming communities.

The University is making sure that communities in East New Britain are aware of the adverse effects of Climate Change. So that they can make appropriate changes to mitigate and adapt to their changing environment.

Project officer Simon Nakaiban says communities need to understand that Climate Change is real and is affecting communities and livelihoods. He added that most in the community are slowly coming to terms in understanding the severity of the effects of changes in Global weather patterns. But some very remote communities still need to fully grasp the messaging of climate change.

Simon Nakaiban explained that as part of their outreach they focus on awareness on food security as one aspect of mitigating climate change. That means introducing improved variety of crops like Sweet Potato and Casava, which Nakaiban pointed out as being drought tolerant.

He also added that they are conducting surveys and collecting valuable data that will be shared among stakeholders. The center is working to make sure that some of their findings can help influence some of the policy decisions made at the bureaucratic level.

Related Story: https://insidepng.com/carbon-trading-benefitting-communities/

Keep Reading
By
News

JMart Supports 7s

By
JMart Supports

JMART, a leading retail and community-oriented organization, is thrilled to announce its full-
fledged support for the YoungGunz team, through the sponsorship of three new sets of jersey’s for the Under 20’s, Senior Men’s and Women’s division.

The Youngunz are a 7’s team under the NGCB Blue Heelers Rugby Union Club.

The aim of this team is to provide an avenue for young individuals to engage in sports and develop essential
life skills.

JMART shares the same vision with the NGCB Blue Heelers RUC and is committed to the welfare and empowerment of the youth in Papua New Guinea by engaging in sports as an ideal way to living a positive life.

As a part of this exciting collaboration, JMART through this initiative believes that investing in our youth and keeping them engaged in sports can lead to healthier, more motivated, and well-rounded individuals. Justin Tan, Managing Director of JMART expressed enthusiasm about this collaboration,
saying, “JMART with support also from TrackPro are proud to support YoungGunz Jersey’s in their mission to empower our youth through sports. We firmly believe that by providing
these young individuals with the right tools and opportunities, we can help them grow, not only as athletes but as responsible and confident citizens.”

YoungGunz coach, Ase Boas, added, “We are thrilled to have JMART and TrackPro on board as club partners. Their support will meaningfully have a positive impact on our youths. What
our club promotes is more than just sports; it’s about instilling life skills, good values,
leadership, and self-confidence.”

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in promoting community engagement and youth development through sports.

Together, we are working to make a positive and lasting impact on the lives of young individuals in our community.

Keep Reading
By
Environment

Environment Council Re-established

By
Environment Council

Government has reminded Environment Council members of the very nature of their existence which is to provide the necessary duty diligence which progresses or terminates level three permit environment activities in country.

Motsy David, First Secretary to the Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change made this known at the swearing in of the council members today following a two-year absence of a board under a previous management.

“The Government has trust in the high caliber Papua New Guineans to oversee this important function of protecting our environment, but it must be done with care for our people, country and God who gave us this earth,” the Minister’s Spokesman said.

The Environment Council is an important part of the scientific government office – Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), it provides an oversight of the highest-level environment permit issued in the land.

After taking office over a Year ago, Environment Minister Hon. Simo Kilepa, MP, has tasked Acting Managing Director Jude Tukuliya to furnish some of the outstanding issues in the organization which include the establishment of the environment council.

“We are seeing positive feedback from the investors now that the council is in place,” Mr. Tukuliya said.
The council members include Jude Tukuliya (Chairman), Professor Kaul Gena, Jack Kariko, Tom Pringel, Professor Simon Saulei and Dr. Eric Omuru.

Related: https://insidepng.com/category/climate-change/

Keep Reading
By
Environment

Carbon Trading Benefitting Communities

By
Carbon Trade

Tavolo Community Conservation Association is one success story of the future of carbon trading in Papua New Guinea.

The people living within the conservation area have benefited from school fee assistance and also household support through a family package. Thanks to benefit sharing arrangements between Tavolo Community Conservation Association, the Government of PNG and international Partners.

The Community based organization is located in East New Britain Province in the Pomio District it is the combined initiative of the people of Tavolo, Lausus and Mukus.

Chairman of the Association Peter Kikele says the association has partnered with the Government and other relevant stake holders. This is to ensure they benefit from Carbon Trading as part of their efforts in conserving large areas of forests in their area.

After the sale of their carbon credits they have a family package that they give to members of the clan. As part of a benefit sharing arrangement.

The benefit sharing arrangement involves the Government of Papua New Guinea the agencies that facilitate the sale of Carbon Credits and the clan members that have given the right for the sale of carbon from their area.

Kikele says that they are well off conserving their flora and fauna. In the past they had logging which not only destroyed their environment but also yielded minimal benefit in terms of monetary return. This time with the sale of Carbon Credits they have conserved their forests and have enough disposable income to pay for their children’s education and also build homes using modern materials. Kikele says that is a much better outcome compared to logging that happened in the past.

Recent: https://insidepng.com/capacity-building-for-environment-conservation/

Keep Reading
By
Pin It