Breaking Barriers in PNG: Caroline Evari

By World Bank

For International Women’s Day 2020, we’re getting to know the pioneering women across the Pacific and Papua New Guinea who are breaking barriers and creating change for the decade ahead. Caroline Evari began writing at the age of six. She is now the author of 28 children’s books and has published her own book of poems, Nanu Sina: My Words, all while supporting the World Bank and it’s nine projects in Papua New Guinea and raising two sons.
What inspired you to start writing at such a young age?

After I had completed first grade in school my family moved from Port Moresby back to my father’s village in Oro Province. I was supposed to continue on to grade two, but there weren’t any schools nearby so I spent my childhood days writing. I would just walk around the village with a notebook and describe whatever I could see. It was my way of keeping myself in school.

Did you eventually go back to school?

Yes, I moved back to Port Moresby in 2001 and started school again. I realized I was doing so well in English compared to other subjects because I spent my time away from school writing. So, I was able to catch up quickly.

Later on, when I attended Marianville Secondary School, we were required to keep school journals every year, and that’s how I discovered my talent for writing poems. At the end of grade 12 I had written a total of 60 poems and they now make up the majority of my book, Nanu Sina: My Words.

What do you love about writing poetry?

For me, poetry is the best way to express myself. Most of my published poems were written when I was growing up, at a stage when I was living away from my parents. I missed them, but I wanted to achieve something with my life so I had to somehow let go of those emotions and thoughts. I find poetry a really good way for people to let go of any stress, anxiety, depression or anything that may be pulling them down.

How did you get into writing children’s books?

In 2017, I wrote two children’s stories titled Zuki the Crocodile and Old Mulga and the Pawpaw Tree for the organization Library for All. The stories were then developed into picture books in 2019 and distributed to schools around PNG.

Given that I work with the World Bank, I could see that we shouldn’t just advocate for Papua New Guineans to learn to read, we need to also write our own stories and have them published into books. The majority of the books in schools are not written by us, they are written by people from other parts of the world.

I had this idea: what if we started teaching our people to write their own stories? Or what if we started teaching each other to express ourselves through poetry? That would have a big impact. I started reaching out to schools and teachers and motivating them to encourage their students to write their own stories. I give free talks in schools on why writing is so important and I hold children’s story writing workshops.

You’ve been lucky enough to be mentored by popular PNG writer, Rashmii Amoah Bell – what was that like?

Yes, in 2016, along with 45 other PNG women, I contributed to the My Walk to Equality anthology that Rashmii edited – it was the first ever collection of writing from Papua New Guinean women.

Rashmii then mentored me for the first six months after I published my book of poetry. It was really important for me because Rashmii is someone that I look up to as a role model. We don't often have Papua New Guinean women as  professional mentors. We are always looking outside PNG for inspiration and motivation. But, in this case, I was very privileged to receive that mentorship from her, and it was really inspiring for me.

Do you think there will be more female PNG writers in the future?

Yes, and I do believe we already have a good number of Papua New Guinean female writers. There’s a lot of change and positive responses from communities with women being more vocal, and it's really a good thing to see. So I hope that this momentum of women writers gaining support will continue to increase.

What are your hopes and plans for the future?

I'm already working on another book of poems, but my hope for the future is to write more; not just poems, but more children's story books. I want to help capture our culture and languages that are dying away.

I also hope that my two sons will grow into responsible men that are able to respect and understand women. I want them to accept women as they are; seeing women as equals in society. I think that’s my biggest aim for my sons’ future.

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Go to this link for more: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2020/02/28/caroline-evari?fbclid=IwAR3WKp2UBlbHyccDCzIGvbV1cPEfhj5ef7mwkjtIvl4tNR__2sK35DLKpjk

Carolyn fulfills dad’s dream, wish

 

Right: Bomai after her certification as a practising lawyer at the Waigani Court House on Dec 13 – Nationalpic by JASON KAVAN

By ZEDAIAH KANAU - The National

IT was around noon on Dec 13 the Waigani National Court welcomed 75 new lawyers into the legal fraternity.
Among them was Carolyn Bomai, who had similar emotions as her fellow students who had just received certificates to practise law.
Coming from a Chimbu-Eastern Highlands parentage, Bomai, 24, had achieved two goals on the day.
She had just fulfilled her dad’s wish and dreams for her to become a lawyer.
Bomai is the second of five children, all grew up at Morata One, Port Moresby.
Dad Cletus grew up in one of the remotest parts of Chimbu at Kuleka village, Gumine district, where vegetation is overruled by the a rocky landscape, making gardening difficult.
Dad’s struggling background has always been Carolyn’s inspiration.
He is a mechanical engineer while mum is self-employed??.
“My role model is my father because he comes from a very poor background and his struggles will always be my drive and motivation,” Bomai said.
“Because of the struggles he had gone through, the only way I could make him feel better is through education which is his emphasis towards us, his children.”
Dad was beaming with pride on April 26 when Bomai graduated from the University of PNG with a law degree after four years of hard work.
“If there is no hard work and support, then expect nothing. You have to work hard and put effort into what you want to achieve,” Bomai said.
“Education is the key to all doors. This is what my father used to tell me all the time.”
Bomai started her journey in 2001 at Noblet Catholic Elementary School and then proceeded to Carr Memorial Adventist to finish her primary schooling.
In 2010, she went to Kabiufa Adventist Secondary (in EHP) for grade 9 but returned to Port Moresby and enrolled at Jubilee Catholic Secondary where she had her secondary school education.
Bomai took up studies at UPNG in 2015, making it through to her final year. She was the vice-president of the Eastern Highlands Students’ Union in 2018.
“Most of the leadership roles during our school years were taken up by males so I decided to take up that role to involve the females and prove that women are capable of leading too.”
Bomai did her postgraduate legal training last year at the Legal Training Institute.
“My interest in becoming a criminal lawyer grew stronger due to one of my instructors at LTI, Vasiti Mauta.

“ My role model is my father because he comes from a very poor background and his struggles will always be my drive and motivation.”

“After attending all her classes and seeing how she conducts herself motivated me to becoming a criminal lawyer. She always tells us to believe in ourselves and know our worth, which is what I stand for.”
One of Bomai’s ambitions is to one day see that all PNG citizens versed in law and know their rights.
“The enforcers of the law have to do more awareness and educate the people. People need to know their rights and when they know their rights that’s when they do things in an acceptable way in the society,”Bomai said.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/carolyn-fulfills-dads-dream-wish/

Alice has certificate in motor mechanic

 

Founding principal of the Hela Hewate Multi Skills Training Institute David Angobe with Alice Agobe and her daughter Florida after the graduation last Friday
at Tari.

By ELIAS LARI - The National

MOTHER of six Alice Agobe, from Hela, was the only female who graduated with certificate in motor mechanic at the Hela Hewate Multi Skills Training Institute last Friday in Tari.
Though many women considered taking up this male-dominated course, few opted for it but Agobe, 35, from Hewate village in the Tari-Pori electorate, decided to give it a crack.
Agobe dropped out of grade 10 in 2000, becoming a housewife and mother and believing that was her future.
However, after struggles and pain in depending on her husband’s income, Agobe felt that she had to do something to change that for the sake of the famly.
In 2016 she applied to the Hela Hewate Multi Skills Training Institute in Tari and was accepted to do motor mechanics.
She completed it the following year and so decided to spend another on schooling – taking up basic computing at the same institution.
She completed that last year.
Last Friday she was among 101 students who graduated with certificates.
Agobe received two certificates – motor mechanic and basic computing. The institution informed Agobe that she was accepted to further her National Certificate (NC) studies at the Mt Hagen Technical College.
She described her achievement as “a miracle from God”.
“I want to encourage every mother and young women who are at home to look for such opportunities because God created man and women the same.
“I’m happy that finally my dream for the last six years has come to a reality,” she said.
“Many women nowadays have forgotten that they are important and can live a life without depending heavily on others or even their husbands,” she said.
Agobe said she wanted to continue her studies.
She was thankful to the Hela Hewate Multi Skills Training Institute for giving her a second chance in life.
Founding principal of the Institute David Angobe said that his vision to establish the institution was to help the unfortunate because education was a right for people. He said Hela, despite having so much bad publicity, could change and promote the province for positive living.

“ I want to encourage every mother and young women who are at home to look for such opportunities because God created man and women the same. I’m happy that finally my dream for the last six years has come to a reality.”

Angobe said the institute was level-four and it also offered FODE studies used for upgrading marks as well graduate pupils for grade 12 certificate.
He said to help people like Agobe, the institution had to struggle with farming and fishery to maintain its operations.
“We are here to serve and support people who feel that they do not have a hope of facing a new life,” he said.
Angobe said his plan was to extend the institution and make sure that those who had lost a chance could come and make a fresh start.
“If people like Alice can make her up from a housewife to a mechanic and computer person, then why not you?
“It all depends on how you plan your life because a hard-working person will always have food on the table,” Angobe said.
“If you want to make a change in your life, then there is hope and it is about time you get committed to make your way up.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/alice-has-certificate-in-motor-mechanic/

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Life teaches Helen empathy

Helen after her admission at the Waigani National Court in Port Moresby on Dec 13.

By ZEDAIAH KANAU - The National

In a country where leadership is commonly associated with patriarchy in almost every aspects of life, one young lass is breaking barriers by inspiring the next generation of Papua New Guineans moving forward.

TWENTY-four-year old Helen Yurus is a proud Papua New Guinean with an enduring passion to help progress the nation in any way she can.
Helen recently graduated from the Legal Training Institute (LTI) and was admitted to the bar of the National and Supreme Courts on Dec 13. Born to Margaret Yurus and late William Yurus, Helen comes from East Sepik where dad is from Turubu Village and mom is from Boikin. She is the last of four children.
Helen’s dad was a telecommunications engineer while mom was a primary school teacher before she assumed a teaching role with the Red Cross special education centre in Hohola, NCD where she teaches special-needs student’s (hearing and speech impaired) sign language.
“I’ve always look up to my dad because he was a man of integrity. Regardless of his job and his role he always wanted to do the right thing which was important to us growing up,” Helen says.
“I have two older sisters and a brother. Dad always instilled in us that as women in our society we (my sisters and I) must be independent and not depend on others too much. He raised us to be strong and independent and that’s why I admire my dad.”
Helen began her schooling at Lahara Pre-school in 2001. In 2009 she completed grade eight at Korobosea International School and enrolled at the Port Moresby International School (Pomis) the following year. While in grade 10 in 2011, her late dad switched jobs and was unable to complete her fees for that year.
Helen transferred to Jubilee Secondary School in 2012 to do grade 10 again and remained at Jubilee until she finished her secondary education in 2014.
But a month from her grade 12 exams, Helen’s dad William passed away and her life came crumbling down. Before his passing, Dad William had always dreamed of her daughter (Helen) becoming a lawyer.
“I never wanted to apply for law; I wanted to become an economist but because dad died, all my family expected me to choose law.
“My big sister Wilma Yurus is a very important person in my life. She and her partner Matthew Tade are like my second parents. They practically looked after me when my dad passed away.”
Before travelling to Wewak for dad’s funeral, Helen changed her school leaver form selection from economics to law at the very last minute and was selected for law at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) in 2015.
Whilst at university, Helen heard about The Voice Inc.
“I’m always passionate about contributing to the growth of the country so I heard about The Voice Inc PNG, which is a platform for young people to be engaged, like a youth programme to help build your leadership skills and to know how you can give back as a young person.”
Helen was an active member of the Law Student Society (LSS) and in her second year at university, she became class representative for all second year law students in 2016.
“In 2016, in order to help my mother who was struggling to pay back the loan for my fees, I applied to the Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited Scholarship scheme and was a successful recipient and as such they have met my fees from my third year of studies till the completion of my education at LTI this year.”
Helen’s journey took another turn when she got pregnant while still in university.
“I got pregnant when I was in third year and I didn’t know how to tell my mother about it. When I did it took a lot for her to come around and accept that I was pregnant.”
The year 2018 was an eventful one for the young lass. Before registering for her final year of studies, Helen was shortlisted for the 2018 Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF) Archer Leadership programme and was selected for 2018.
The KTF is a non-governmental organisation that contributes to education, leadership and health in the country in order to keep the spirit of Kokoda alive through its team headed by Dr Genevieve Nelson.
Concurrently, Helen has recently completed an inaugural three-month internship programme with Transparency International and applied for the KTF programme prior to finishing her training. As an Archer leader under the KTF, Helen was selected to travel to Australia. On May 11 that year, a month before travelling, Helen gave birth to her daughter Tehillah Azure-Mira Wariambu before marrying the father of her child Percy Wariambu.
“It was a complicated birth so I had to recover within two weeks and then come sit for my first semester exams.”
Helen and other KTF recipients visited Sydney and Melbourne in their two week trip which centred upon adaptive leadership.
“In Melbourne we went to visit Newcrest and spoke with the vice president. While in Sydney I went to Dentons which is one of the biggest law firms in the world and was fortunate to do a one-day work experience with them in their Sydney office.”
While away, Mum Margaret and Sister Wilma and her husband Matthew stepped in and raised Helen’s daughter which became the norm leading up to her final days of studies.
Upon returning, Helen managed to complete her formal years at university level awaiting graduation the next year (2019). Helen was also presented with a K1,000 grant through her KTF scholarship. While prepping for husband Percy’s graduation at the University of Technology in Morobe, Helen consulted the KTF about doing her community project in an elementary school in Morobe, located in her husband’s village.
Using her grant money, Helen liaised with an organisation called Library for All which is based in Australia that provides culturally appropriate books directed for Papua New Guinea children.
“Comprehension is really important; your foundation is really important. Teaching them (children) at an early age when they are trying to comprehend should be culturally appropriate in their context so that they have a better understanding,” she says.
Helen bought 32 brand new A5-sized books written by PNG authors for children aged three to seven years old.
“Shipping was really expensive so I had to ask the KTF chief operating officer Mike Nelsen and CEO Dr Genevieve Nelson to bring the books when coming to PNG and thankfully that’s what they did.”
Helen went to donate the books to the Puseka Elementary School for their library in Puseka Village, Huon Gulf in Morobe on April 7. She hopes to continue to give back to the community anyway she can. Last April 26, Helen was able to achieve what her late dad had wished for her by graduating with a law degree from UPNG.
“The four years was a real struggle but I was happy that I was able to make my mum proud because my dad wasn’t there. So my sister and mum, those are the two people that told me to never give up when things got tough and when I wanted to withdraw from school.”
Helen then went through another six months at the LTI for a practicing certificate whilst at the same time was chosen (unanimously) to lead as the female class representative of the LTI 2019 trainees. She earned the respect of her colleges by treating everyone as equals regardless of gender.
Balancing the duties of being a mom and student at a young age wasn’t easy but fortunately for Helen, husband Percy with the support of his family, father Gregory and mother Abigail were able to assist her with that.
On Nov 29, she graduated from LTI and was the recipient of the female class leader award.
“Going through the KTF Foundation, going through the adaptive leadership programme teaches you to take a step back and look at what is happening in front of you.
“It has taught me to be innovative and to stand firm on my values and have empathy for other people. You don’t know what other people are facing every day.
“I’ve been through situations that brought me down. You are not what you are without the experiences you go through. I don’t pretend to be anyone else but myself. I’m not going to pretend that I wasn’t pregnant or I had the perfect life after uni because I didn’t.”
“We all have a story to tell and that’s my story. That’s how I lead having empathy and putting everyone else before me and that’s what life is supposed to be about.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/life-teaches-helen-empathy/

National flag still belongs to Susan, husband says

By BRADLEY MARIORI - The National

THE PNG flag is the late Susan Karike Huhume’s property and not the country’s as no proper recognition had been given, the designer’s husband says.
Nanny Huhume said his wife died in 2017 and no proper recognition or burial was given to her by the Government which remained a concern for the family, especially when she was a national figure and contributor to the independent state of Papua New Guinea.

Susan Karike was a young schoolgirl on Central’s Yule Island where she participated in the nationwide search for a national flag. On July 1, 1971, Karike’s design became official as the national flag for Papua and New Guinea.

“No proper recognition was given when my wife was still alive and up to the time when she died and was buried,” he said.
“The previous governments, from Somare’s time up to now, have done nothing.”
Huhume said because there was no proper recognition or compensation, the PNG national flag was still his wife’s property and not the State’s.
“When she died, no one came to help or properly farewell her,” he said.
“Her contribution to the country will remain and will be seen by generations and generations to come.
“At her haus krai, it took me three months to peacefully bury her without assistance from the Government.
“We got a memo from the Prime Minister’s Office (Peter O’Neill) that they would help us with vehicles and other things to take the body to Kerema for burial and we waited in vain for three months.”
Huhume said there was also no proper recognition or help from the Gulf government.
“We buried her on July 28, 2017, without a proper ceremony.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/national-flag-still-belongs-to-susan-husband-says/

THE SUSAN KARIKE HUHUME MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP OFFICIAL LAUNCH

By Soroptimist International of PNG

In a small but significant ceremony today in Ramu the SI Ramu Club coinciding with the Independence Celebration of Ramu International Primary School, had Mr. Nanny Huhume, husband of Late Susan Karike Huhume, officially launch the memorial scholarship honoring his wife and a very deserving and true Champion of Papua New Guinea.
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Susan Karike Huhume, PNG National Flag designer was 15 years old when she won a competition with her design which became our country's national identity. Our national flag is the only unifying symbol uniting our people of over 800 languages, diverse culture, and traditions, making us ONE PEOPLE, ONE COUNTRY!!! The Flag is a symbol of pride and a sense of belonging. She is and remains the one true hero of this great nation. May her legacy live on in the lives of all who will benefit from this memorial scholarship.
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Soroptimist International recognizes that access to education for girls and women at all ages is a fundamental human right and is vital for development, economic growth and poverty reduction. We live in a world where many women and girls face insurmountable barriers in completing their education, where educational outcomes for girls and women are lacking and access to continuing education is a harsh reality.
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We hope that through this memorial scholarship, Late Susan's legacy will leave on in the lives of the women and girls who can further their education, be independent and economically empowered to sustain themselves and contribute to the development of this great nation.
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PURPOSE
The purpose of this scholarship is to assist girls further their education, particularly girls who come broken homes and girls who are discriminated by their mere gender.
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TARGET
We are hoping to raise a minimum of K15,000.00 per year (K15,000 as late Susan was a 15-year-old when she designed the flag). But more money raised means more girls can get educated.

NUMBER OF AWARDS PER YEAR
A minimum of 5 girls per year ( 5 from the number of stars on our flag).
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AWARD AMOUNT
to be advised.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING
we hope to seek funds through relevant government departments, the office of the Prime Minister, business houses, corporate entities, and citizens.
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PROJECT START DATE
January 2020
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Thank you All for making today possible and truly memorable.
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Watch this space for more on this memorial scholarship in the weeks to come.
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HAPPY 44th INDEPENDENCE PAPUA NEW GUINEA!
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#SusanKarikeHuhumeMemorialScholarship
#TrueChampion
#LegacyLivesOnThroughEducation
#EmpoweringWomenAndGirlsOfPNG
#HistoryMade
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Visit their facebook page
Soroptimist International of PNG
Soroptimist International of Ramu Club
Kimberly Berem

PM vows to help women

Posted by The National

PRIME Minister James Marape, pictured, says his Government will work towards ensuring women’s rights are recognised and women are given equal opportunities in business.
“As the current prime minister, I look forward to ensuring women’s rights are given total protection and women are given every opportunity in life and protected as far as contested resources are concerned, resources of school, resources of healthcare, resources of work place and more importantly, resources of private business opportunity,” he said.
Marape made the comments at the Professional Business Women’s (PBW) Club’s inaugural CEOs Independence Ball which he and wife Rachael attended at the International Convention Centre on Saturday night.
PBW, a non-governmental organisation, founded by Dame Carol Kidu and established in 1982, comprises of a group of volunteers who dedicate their time to raise funds to assist less fortunate women to complete their education through a school fee support programme.
Some of the recipients of the school fees assistant scheme were present at the ball and shared stories of their struggles in life and the impact that PBW had on them and their lives.
Marape said he was inspired by the story of one of the recipients, Zelda John, who recently completed her secondary education at Marianville Secondary School.
John, a young woman from East Sepik, was the sixth child in a family of nine siblings abandoned by their mother and left with their father to fend for them, shared her experience of the hardship faced by her family, especially her father who looked after them and the struggles they went through.
John spoke of how she had taken on the responsibility of looking after her education as well as those of her siblings.
John said through the support of PBW, she was able to complete her secondary education and looked forward to become a teacher to assist her family.
Marape commended PBW for supporting and empowering women through education and said he was grateful to be in the company of women with such initiative.
“When I talk about this country being fair, it refers to all having equal opportunities,” Marape said.
“This country must be a country of equal opportunities and it is important for every one of us who are successful to share the blessing with others and I am happy to be in the company of a group of women who are able to share blessings with others.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/pm-vows-to-help-women/

God helps those who help themselves: Maiyua

By ELIAS LARI - The National

THERE is life out there awaiting those who have the courage to pursue their dreams, heart’s desire and hopes despite facing hardship and circumstances in life, says a mother of two.
Many lose hope and fall off the track after coming across hardship, thinking that this is life’s offer, she said.
Joyce Maiyua earned K60 a fortnight but didn’t give up her dream despite facing so many challenges in her marriage, family life and in the community she lived in.
The 34-year-old had dropped out of school after doing her grade 10 at the Notre Dame Secondary School, Western Highlands, in 1988. She was actually forced to quit by issues such tribal fighting at her Baiyer village.

Joyce Maiyua displaying her awards on theory and practical after the graduation on Feb 29 at the Tinsley CHW training school in Baiyer.

Maiyua hails from the Rami tribe, Maiyua clan, Manzip village in Western Highlands.
She did not stay around doing nothing though, believing that she still could become a nurse and fulfil her dream.
Maiyua’s aim was to further her education first to open more doors.
She focused on informal marketing for four years and in 2003 she had saved enough to apply to the St Paul’s Secretarial College in Mt Hagen.
After completing basic computing in 2004, she joined a computer shop to work and was paid K60 for a fortnight.
She knew she was being cheated so she sought employed at aa primary school in Mt Hagen in 2004.
Maiyua earned a K120 a fortnight,she was happier and kept the job until 2008 but soon found it hard to live on her earning with her two children.
So she moved on to Boroko Motors – from 2010-2011.
Maiyua was asked by her old school to come back and take the position she had but with a better pay. She became office secretary.
She upgraded her marks until 2006doing grades 11 and 12.
She applied for a position with the Mt Hagen Provincial Hospital as secretary to the director medical service (DSM) and was accepted in 2012
Maiyua was often touched while dealing with the problems of the sick.
She had openings for community health worker training and chose training at Baiyer in 2017 because she was a local and also wanted to be close to her two children.
She finally graduated in February.
With no permanent job now, Maiyua decided to return to the hospital and voluntarily help the Western Highlands health authority polio team as part of her job training.
She said that single mothers or widows should be thinking positive to achieve a better future.
“Since I dropped out from grade 10 or lived a separated (from her husband) life for six years , it did not stopped. I knew I had a task ahead to find myself a bright future,” Maiyua said.
“With God, all things are possible because He alone will help you when you start helping yourself.”
Maiyua said many women were becoming too dependent on their husbands which was becoming a major setback.
She said women could become equal partners with their male folks when they planned well because nothing good came for a person who was lazy.
“I still have a vision to move on to further my studies,” she said.
Maiyua said people who were lazy and expected handouts would never achieve their dream.
“My word to lazy people is stop praying to God to bless or help you when you don’t know how to take the first step because God helps those who help themselves.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/god-helps-those-who-help-themselves-maiyua/

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Papua New Guinea’s First Neurosurgeon – Dr Esther Roibete Apuahe

Posted by PNG ICT Meri

Came across this story on Facebook shared by Senisim Pasin Page.

Papua New Guinea’s first neurosurgeon, Dr Esther Roibete Apuahe.

So many inspiring stories of our people that need to be shared through every platform and media.

Dr Apuahe’s encouragement to young girls is to remember that success comes with perseverance and determination.

“Nothing will be served to you on the silver plate, go out and make it happen for you. You are the only one who will decide your destiny. Reach for the sky, no one is a failure. And in all this, remember, nothing is impossible with God”.

The Townsville Hospital is training the next generation of Papua New Guinean neurosurgeons under the tutelage of neurosurgery consultant Dr Eric Guazzo and the neurosurgery department.

Dr Esther Apuahe is the first female Papua New Guinean national to train as a general surgeon and will be the third doctor to hone her skills in neurosurgery at The Townsville Hospital.

Having practised medicine in Papua New Guinea for 15 years and inspiring other women to follow in her footsteps along the way, Esther said she was thrilled to be taking the opportunity to learn at The Townsville Hospital.

Esther said the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons had made her training at The Townsville Hospital possible.

“I was awarded the Pacific Island Rowan Nicks Scholarship which enabled my year-long placement at The Townsville Hospital and I’m really grateful for that.

“I was working in one of the provincial hospitals in Papua New Guinea when two local neurosurgeons couldn’t continue to provide the service creating the opportunity for me to train in neurosurgery,” she said.

“It’s a wonderful moment to be continuing this journey at The Townsville Hospital and I’m extremely grateful to be doing this under the leadership of Dr Eric Guazzo and his team.

“I’m enjoying working in a well established neurosurgery unit and I’m hoping to learn the use of more advanced equipment.

“I’m also excited to further my knowledge on neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neuroradiology and upskill my own
surgical techniques.”

Esther said she hoped to use the skills learned at The Townsville Hospital to benefit her community when she returned to Papua New Guinea.

“It is so generous of Eric and his neurosurgery colleagues to impart their vast knowledge and experience to help me to do this,” she said.

“The Townsville Hospital has always supported training Papua New Guinean neurosurgical trainees and Dr Eric Guazzo
has been one of the biggest contributors to neurosurgical training in PNG.”

Eric said he and his team were honoured to invest in the future of neurosurgery in Papua New Guinea.

“Every country should have access to well-trained physicians in a variety of specialities,” Eric said.

“Medicine is a continuous journey of learning and knowledge and we see sharing expertise with doctors such as Esther, who are passionate about providing critical health care specialities to their communities, as a part of our responsibility as doctors,” Eric said.

“Dr Apuahe is already a talented physician and her eagerness to further develop herself as a neurosurgery specialist is inspiring.

“As we found with Esther’s predecessors, this is a two-way learning process; we grow in our own knowledge from Esther, particularly learning from the way she manages the immense challenges of providing health care to her community.

“We are privileged to have the opportunity to play a part in developing the next generation of neurosurgery specialists in Papua New Guinea and it is incredibly rewarding.”

Go to this link for more: https://pngictmeri.wordpress.com/2019/07/27/papua-new-guineas-first-neurosurgeon-dr-esther-roibete-apuahe/?fbclid=IwAR3Qsy46lRyG3yIrDTRcBaiN6hKctluQwhtm9vePk_joVW7rn03BugpFo8c

Wisil does it again

Posted on The National

PAPUA New Guinea sprint champion Toea Wisil once again defended her Pacific Games title after taking out the women’s 100m final in 11.56 seconds in Apia, Samoa, yesterday.
Fiji’s Heleina Young finished in 11.82 seconds to claim silver and PNG’s Leonie Beu (11.94 seconds) secured bronze.
Wisil, who ran 11.50 seconds in the morning’s qualifying heats, was happy with the time she finished with in the final.
Beu finished first in heat three, clocking 11.95 seconds.
“It feels good to be winning as I have been working hard for this for a long time,” she said.
“For this one, to be honest from the beginning it was a rough time, but I’ve done it.”
Wisil, who won bronze in the same event at the 2007 Samoa Pacific Games, said: “I was 19 years old then. It feels good to come back and win gold on this track.”
Silver medallist Heleina Young, who is just 17, was thoughtful in her reflection when speaking after the final.
“Before I went in, my coach told me that this day would never come again,” she said.
“I knew coming in to the final that it would be really tough, especially against Toea (Wisil), who is someone of a high calibre.”
Meanwhile, Athletics PNG president Tony Green said in a statement that the men’s 100m final was a showdown between Pacific Games defending champion Banuve Tabacaucoro (Fiji) and Samoa’s Jeremy Dodson.
“It was the Fijian who came out on top, beating his own Games record of 10.33 seconds with 10.31 clocking, silencing the home crowd in the process.
“(Team PNG’s) Michael Penny and Theo Piniau made the final, and finished sixth and seventh respectively.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/wisil-does-it-again/

Life is Mysterious

By Ruth Jewels Kissam

I pulled out of 2nd year law school nearly twenty years ago because at that time it felt like the right thing to do to fulfill family obligations. I also had TIME or so I thought I had! So I worked odd jobs and put my younger siblings through school, helped look after my sick mum and was the youth leader of my Warrior Hearts Youth at the AOG church down at Warakum, Mt. Hagen all the while, thinking I'd still go back and complete my studies and be a hotshot lawyer!

Twenty years on and I still don't have the coveted Bamboo from UPNG but my journey as been nothing short of fulfilling. I buried my mum in another man's land, watched my three younger siblings grow into men, have families and have their own lives and later buried my dad. I walked trails infested with leeches with medical supplies, brought food and clothes to rural clinic and communities, climbed many mountains to go to 'just over there' to encourage and inspire rural young people to have hope for a better PNG. Worked with rural communities to extend their airstrips, refurbish their aid posts and build schools, worked in settlement to empower girls, organized communities to take ownership of their problems and worked with churches to take holistic approaches to social ills. I had become passionate about this journey that I had unintentionally taken off the main track of life that I was on initially.

While pursuing my passion I realized I needed capacity building because I had no idea what I was doing, so I searched the internet for fully-funded short training courses. Fully-funded because I was poor as a church mouse. During one of the searches for community solutions, I came across US Government sponsored Community Solutions Program (CSP) and I thought, what the heck - just try. I applied and I got accepted and became the first Papua New Guinean (We have since had five PNGeans go through) and I got to be offered my current job with PNG Tribal Foundation, while I was still on the program over in the States in 2015.

I have since then gone on for a lot of capacity building workshops and trainings around the world and one of my highlight was going to one of the world's leading University in the US and the world for that matter - Stanford University!! This time as a Draper-Hills Fellow at the Centre on Democracy, Development and Rule of Law in 2017 (again a first for a Papua New Guinean for this fellowship) for three weeks. Again my selection to this program was also a miracle because I still had no bamboo but I was butting heads with some of the best in the world!

Being selected for the Obama Foundation Scholars program for the 2019-2020 cohort is a very big thing for me. Obama Foundation believes in 'the next generation of global leaders, so the Obama Foundation Scholars program partners with Columbia and UChicago to combine academic research with one-of-a-kind experiences led by the Obama Foundation. The program’s aim is to empower emerging leaders who have a proven commitment to service with the tools they need to make their efforts more effective upon their return home.'

The news of my selection to the prestigious Obama Foundation Scholars Program came out 10 days before my Dad's first anniversary of his passing, 18th June. It was a bittersweet moment for me but also fitting because my Dad, he had to make me happy on what was a painful month for me. He taught me while growing up that I could do anything my five brothers can do even though he was an Engan man, made me believe I could change my world and I BELIEVED HIM.

I am honored and deeply humbled by all the well-wishes, and congratulatory messages from everyone across PNG and my friends who are celebrating with me from abroad. The outpouring of love has been overwhelming and I really appreciate you and thank you from my heart.

I wrote this long writeup in the hope that my journey can inspire some of you who feel you've strayed off the main path to find your footing, have hope and keep moving. It wasn't easy and all "primrose path of dalliance' but a lot of sacrifice in terms of self, time, love, marriage, a family, dreams and lastly - life!

But as I look back I have no regrets. If I were to choose again, I'd still my choose my family over me but that's because I am a headstrong daughter of an amazing father so I dedicate this fellowship to my dad for introducing me to His God who has helped me, nurtured me, strengthened me and graced me with His wisdom to be the best I can be.

Ruth Jewels Kissam
Obama Fellow 2019-2020

Go to this link for more: https://worldprojects.columbia.edu/news/columbia-world-projects-announces-next-cohort-obama-foundation-scholars

Taking risks – is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Alphonse Huvi - "We have the choice of putting those doubts where they belong  - out of the way"

By ALPHONSE HUVI - PNG Attitude

TINPUTZ - The meaning of the word ‘risk’ is the possibility that something bad may happen.  As in, ‘it’s a risk’.

Author Mike Murdock has written that “most people choose to sit as spectators in the game of life rather than risk the arena of conflict to wear the crown of victory.”

I guess it comes back to each individual as to whether one is willing to take the risk of pursuing something they’re interested in and capable of doing.

So many times we ask ourselves a question starting with, ‘What if…’?

What if I do this and others think badly of me?

What if I do that and others disapprove?

What if I do the other and create enemies?

The ‘what if’ question troubles many people because it expresses the fear of facing the challenges that lie ahead.

We seem to allow low self-esteem to rule rather than tell ourselves we are capable of doing something.

We do have the choice of putting those doubts where they belong  - out of the way.

So taking risks can offer us benefits to enjoy. However, it also has the disadvantage that things may not go as we want. Then we have to face the consequences.

Of course, if we consider first what those consequences might be, and take steps to avoid them, we are better prepared to overcome the risks.

It comes back to making good choices. We make wise decisions and are likely to reap from them if we minimise the risk.

So taking a well thought-through risk can be beneficial.

So why are some people risk takers and other people not?

I don’t know. I guess it depends on who we are and what we’re prepared to do.

And on how carefully we work out what the risks might be, and how we can avoid them.

Go to this link for more: https://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2019/07/taking-risks-is-this-a-good-thing-or-a-bad-thing.html

Women’s road to parliament can start with 50% of the bureaucracy

Tanya Zeriga Alone - "Hard to change men stuck in a culture that dictates women have no space in decision-making"

TANYA ZERIGA ALONE | Em Nau PNG Blog

PORT MORESBY - It was just 80 years ago that the hausman [men’s house] ruled.

Some of those men have just transitioned from the village hausman to the national hausman, also known as our parliament.

In Papua New Guinea’s paternalistic society, no woman sits in the hausman with the men.

This current generation of women is just one generation removed from PNG’s cultural past, and women in this age and time are still bound to the cultural roles of women, no matter how educated they are.

It is hard to fix culturally indoctrinated women and men. The present push to get women into parliament has never worked in the past – it is hard to liberate women who still live beneath the shadows of a culture of deferral to men.

It is hard to change men who are still stuck in a culture that dictates that women have no space in decision-making.

Our hope for change is in the next generation. Our hope rests on our girls and boys.

The real measure of an equal society is when girls can go to school and have same privileges as boys: when young women can run for the office of student representative, the same as young men; when women can stand up and speak their minds at a big meeting.

The strategy going forward must be to build confident girls who are assertive; while at the same time building confident boys who accept that women are as good at leading as boys are.

In time, confident boys and girls will transition into confident adults and function in an environment where women are judged on their leadership potential and not on their gender. That is the transition we should be pushing for as a 15-20 year strategy.

An immediate activity that may fast-track positive change right now is that the parliament, by law, should ensure that half of the senior, decision-making bureaucrats’ positions go to women.

In government, the rubber hits the road at the bureaucratic level not in politics. Politicians tend to be rubber stamps. The real decisions-makers and implementers of government programs are in the bureaucracy.

When a woman is in a decision making role, she will be inclusive - that’s a women’s trait. After all we run households and we are aware of and cater for all the people in our households.

Even if parliament is 100% men, decision-makers including 50% woman will be more considerate of the plight of women.

Women bureaucrats can change the society in five years; we don’t have to wait for 20.

And in time, it will be easier for a senior woman bureaucrat to transition to parliament because she will be good in what she is doing and she will know the working of the government.

She will have the respect of her male colleagues and she will be confident in her wisdom and knowledge.

Go to this link for more: https://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2019/07/womens-road-to-parliament-can-start-with-50-of-the-bureaucracy.html

Author wants more PNG books written and read

By ALPHONSE BARIASI - The National

AN author and mother of two from Northern has just published a collection of poems following her success in writing more than 20 children’s story books.
Caroline Evari says the poetry in Nanu Sina: My Words is divided into four themes: Conflict (fear, doubt, anger, worry, disobedience); relationships (love, heartache, violence, regret and loneliness); hope (the future, persistence, determination, struggle and survival); and family (advice, mothers, siblings, children and a celebration of life).
“My main message portrayed in the book is freedom of expression through writing,” the mother of two boys says.
“I find that when it comes to expressing themselves, most people find it difficult. One way of expressing yourself is through writing and I find poetry to be an ideal platform for me.”
Evari plans to publish several other books soon.
She draws her inspiration from her experiences and surroundings.
She says a lot of students today are spending more time on their phones than in reading books.
“As a result, there is less interest in reading or writing and I see that the literature level is decreasing. If you go on social media such as Facebook, you will find a lot of grammatical errors, this itself is a reflection on the country’s literature.
“Papua New Guinea is land of oral story tellers, we should be producing great writers too.”
Evari is the last of six children born to Alphonse and Margaret Evari from Northern. Her dad is a retired mechanic who was once the workshop manager for the NCD Parts and Services.
He retired in 1997 to contest the national election and the family moved to Musa, in Northern.
“There weren’t many schools in the village so even though I was supposed to be in Elementary 2, I ended doing Grade 5 in one year and spent the rest of the year in the village being an ordinary village kid,” Evari says.
“In 2001, my dad brought me over to Moresby and I was enrolled at the St Peter Channel Primary School in Erima in 2002 where I did Grade 5 and completed Grade 8 in 2005.
“I then passed to Mariaville Secondary School to do Grade 9 in 2006 and completed Grade 12 in 2009.
“I was accepted to do Science Foundation at the university in 2010 and after completing the third year in Computer Science in 2012, I decided to look for employment because my family could not send me back to complete my final year.
Evari developed a liking for poetry when she was 15 years old.
Nanu Sina: My Words is not her first published work. She had writer four children’s illustrated story books already.
The winner of awards under the Crocodile Prize competition, she recommends aspiring PNG writers to try entering it.
“This is a good platform for increasing interests in literature. The competition currently has prize awards for four categories: Women in writing; children’s writing; essay and journalism; and heritage writing.
“The prize for each category is K5,000 and I would like to call upon a potential sponsor for a “Schools Writing” category to get schools to compete. This is another way of generating interest.”
Evari has also embarked on a voluntary journey called “The NCD school talk series” as part of her book promotion drive.
“I will be speaking to students about:
My journey and experience as a Papua New Guinean writer;
The importance of writing and publishing as a Papua New Guinean; and
The platforms available for aspiring writers.
Evari encourages PNG writing because she says there are too many foreign materials in this country, including reading, writing and learning materials.
“Western culture is taking over and soon our culture will disappear completely.
I have been advocating for the need to preserve our heritage through writing and publishing. We need to instill in our next generation the importance of preserving our languages, traditional values and ways before it is too late.
“There is also a need for PNG authored books to be placed on every library in this country. We need our children to be reading our own stories.
Stories that are of relevance to our ways and those that they can resonate with and pick out practical lessons from.
“A country without literature is a country without identity. Hence, we need to take ownership of literature in this country.”
Evari has spent six years working as a team assistant with the World Bank Group PNG Country Office.
She has been writing since she was seven years old and has authored more than 20 children’s story books with the Library for All.
Her first four books developed into picture books are Zuki The crocodile, Old Mulga And The Pawpaw Tree, Zach And His Toy Truck and Let’s Go Up To The Mountain.
Evari is a contributing author to the My Walk to Equality anthology the first ever of writing from Papua New Guinean women. She has also written for the Crocodile Prize competition and spillwords.com and maintains a blog titled Every Battle on wordpress.com, Facebook and Instagram.
Her mission is to inspire a generation of aspiring writers to preserve our heritage through writing and publishing, produce reading, writing and learning materials relevant to PNG culture, traditions and surrounding, and one day have PNG authored books in libraries throughout the country.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/author-wants-more-png-books-written-and-read/