Sirias turns hobby into business

By SHIRLEY MAULUDU - The National

IN what started as a hobby during her time as a student at Divine Word University (DWU) in Madang is now a business idea that Jane Sirias has pursued.

About 10 years ago, Sirias developed a hobby of shopping at Kalibobo second-hand clothing in Madang with her friends.
They would shop for outfits for events or nice t-shirts and pairs of jeans for casual wear.
The mother of three is now the proud owner of MeniKala Clothing, registered with Investment Promotion Authority and operating out of Madang.

MeniKala Clothing second-hand in Wewak, East Sepik in 2016.

“I saw the turnover of the stock at second-hand clothing in Madang was very good and thought to myself, why not try it out. That was where the idea of starting and owning a small business began,” she recalled.
“MeniKala Clothing started in August 2016 with the retailing of second-hand clothing and is trading as PNG MeniKala Crafts on Facebook.”
Sirias graduated with a bachelor’s degree in information systems from DWU and has been employed full-time with the DWU ICT Services as an IT support analyst for 10 years.
“I am married with three children, age two, four and six,” she said.
“We reside in Madang and basically do our business online via social media (Facebook page).
From East Sepik, Sirias, 32, said the business name “MeniKala” was derived from her home village Meni in Wewak. ‘Kala’ was added to relate to the different clothing colours.
“We ordered our first A grade clothing bales from Mausgras Pacific Trading Ltd in New South Wales, Australia. We managed to clear our (clothing) bales at Lae port and the shipment went straight to Wewak for sales,” she said.
“We successfully made two shipments and the sales went well until we encountered the challenge of the decreasing kina value in 2017.
“The shipping cost was a real challenge as we were unable to restock.
“The devaluation of currency did not stop our dream of owning a small business as we looked into other marketing opportunities in PNG.
“After a bit of research on what was trending on the market especially in clothing, and art and craft, we found out that a lot of Papua New Guineans today wanted to have a little bit of their tradition incorporated with fashion.
“The market niche for us is to do with art and craft. That is something Papua New Guineans today blend well, with different fashion styles.”
Sirias further noted that in June 2018, the Facebook page, PNG MeniKala Crafts was launched to sell PNG themed items ranging from necklaces, bilums, earrings, blouses, purses and fabrics. “With the aid of technology, we managed to sell our products right across PNG. We took the risk to give it a go and to our surprise, we were able to secure a good number of customers with their requests and orders.
“We have orders every day. We are currently operating from home. Our demand is always high and we try to keep up with our supplies too.

Happy customer Yvonne Karo at Tianjin Eye, Tianjin, China with her purchase of Madang bilum from MeniKala.

“We were privileged to partner with Maku Gifts (another local business operating out of Kokopo, East New Britain) to resell the original ‘wheel tabu’ and ‘crocodile print’ fabrics right across the country. We have customers also from mining towns like Porgera, Tabubil and Lihir with few of our items sold to our customers in Fiji, China and Australia as well.”
Sirias was recently part of a 32-member group of women from throughout the country that graduated after 14 weeks of undergoing the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) online business course. The AWE is a pilot programme in PNG which is also run in East Asia and Pacific region. AWE participants used DreamBuilder, an online course on women’s entrepreneurship developed through a partnership between Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and global copper mining company Freeport-McMoRan.
“I have gained the skill set knowledge of creating a business plan including outlining business objectives, refining a prototype, sale and marketing, developing partnerships, securing funding and managing resources,” she said.
“After completing this course, I am now tidying up my financial records which is very important when you want to seek loans or apply for grants and other financial help to keep your business going.
“I am privileged to be part of this pilot project and I humbly thanked the US government for the opportunity given to the Women Entrepreneurs of PNG.”
“It is an ongoing project so I would like to encourage all women who engaged with SME in the country to apply when the applications are open.”
The local business woman further noted that with the aid of the affordable smart phones and data rates and right success habits, business was at her fingertips. “One can have a full-time job and at the same time juggle your business at the comfort of your home.”
Sirias said her faith also played a part in her success by keeping her grounded.
“Last but not the least, always make time to thank our Creator because this is where our wisdom and knowledge comes from. This is where our strength comes from when we are tired in this journey of life. Do your best in whatever you do in life and God will do the rest.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/sirias-turns-hobby-into-business/

Marape: Government supports local businesses

Posted on The National

PRIME Minister James Marape says the Government supports local businesses, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Marape told guests at the PNG Fashion Week in Port Moresby that he expected “bigger and better things” for the PNG Fashion Week.
He attended the event with wife Rachael.
PNG Fashion Week managing director Philma Kelegai said as the premier national fashion, cultural, creative and social platform in PNG, it was important to “connect with and find synergies and partnerships with other platforms”.
“It made perfect sense to invite the queen of fashion (Ellen Whippy-Knight) in the Pacific,” she said.
“We are excited that she has joined our platform and can’t wait to learn from her and work with her.”
Whippy-Knight was a guest speaker at the event.
“Papua New Guinea is an exciting kaleidoscope of colour and culture and I was excited to see the talent while here at PNG Fashion Week.”
Whippy-Knight has been instrumental in the fashion industry in Fiji and the Pacific creating epic platforms that have positively impacted the Fiji and the Pacific.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/marape-government-supports-local-businesses/

CPL training focuses on developing young Papua New Guineans

Posted on The National

CITY Pharmacy Ltd (CPL) Group has started the “Trainee directors programme” aimed at developing young aspiring Papua New Guineans.
In its first year, CPL group has appointed two staff – Eunice Parua, pictured, and Roberta Morlin as their trainee directors.
CPL has always been at the forefront of women empowerment in Papua New Guinea.
Whether it was the Pride of PNG Women’s Awards or the PNG Cricket Lewas women’s national team, CPL has over the last 30-years, been involved in women’s development and support programmes.
Each chosen trainee director would be allocated a current CPL director as mentor for a year.
Trainee directors will participate in board and audit committee meetings but would not vote on any board resolution.
They are able to observe first hand, processes, procedures and learn the mechanics of being a director at the coalface.
At the end of the period, a certificate would be issued certifying that they had served as a trainee on the CPL board.
Parua, 29, is from Western Highlands.
She is a lawyer by profession who has been in private legal practice since February 2013.
She practices as a litigation lawyer and had appeared on numerous occasions in the district, national and supreme courts.
Parua specialises in commercial, contract, tort, family and other civil areas of law.
While 29-year-old Morlin is the head of the Digital Strategic Business Unit at Bank South Pacific Ltd.
With a passion in artificial intelligence (AI), Morlin continues to develop her skills in AI and data
science while gaining practical digital experience in the financial industry.
In 2016, she participated in an entrepreneurship training programme at Draper University in Silicon Valley, California, US, where she developed a passion for high end technology and date driven industries. Morlin possess a bachelor’s of arts, PNG Studies and International relations from Divine Word University.
Graduated with excellence, she received an academic research award for a submitted dissertation on “Cyber security and PNG’s national state security” in 2012.
With a passion for market research in 2014, she had the opportunity to country manage market research projects in PNG and the Solomon Islands for a period with Tebbutt Research, Market Research Consultants.

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/cpl-training-focuses-on-developing-young-papua-new-guineans/?fbclid=IwAR3Lg8WXbHhulv2Lhl0ZdmDMhlFL4dL6tLfrI0HobX8XAT-_lpd3iSUHrxs

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

21 February 2017 – The Right Pitch

By Gorethy Kenneth, Post Courier 21/02/17

DRIVEN for success and looking to expand her knowledge base at Draper University, this 27-year-old lass that you will read about is reaping the benefits of following her dreams.

Roberta Morlin, 27, from Manus and Bougainville, is an exceptionally talented and driven young woman with her very own Papua New Guinea story.

A young entrepreneur, Ms Morlin, just straight from Divine University after studying International Relations from 2008 to 2012 ventured into something else, another profession that gained her an international scholarship.

“I pitched a startup company for connecting doctors to patients, an online medical consultation platform,” she tells her story.

“After that I was still working and recommended to apply to Draper University and in July 2016 I was accepted into Draper and the scholarship was fully funded by Sir Brian Bell Foundation and Kumul Game Changers.

“I studied innovative technology at Silicon Valley and was working on building the application, but then I ended up starting a health app,” she said.

“Being back I have now pursued other interests, while assisting Sir Brian Bell Foundation as well. I freelance and do market research as well as helping other people as a market research consultant.

“I don’t work for anyone, but while going through building this application, an artificial intelligence to help solve issues in PNG – medical consultation, I also assist wherever I can to help build other young entrepreneurs.”

From the Sir Brian Bell Foundation it was obvious, they had and still do have the desire to inspire the people of Papua New Guinea.

This inspiration is driven from a historical connection to both Health and Education.

Sir Brian had a long association with Health in PNG, and this will continue via support to individuals and organisations with the same values and ideals.

Sir Brian Bell Foundation CEO Bronwyn Wright said: “We all have heard the stories of great women from around the world, and how they started from small beginnings, they challenged the normal, they didn’t accept this is how you do it, and they have treated us to many amazing successes and triumphs.”

Mrs Wright said that Papua New Guinea has one of its very own success stories, and Ms Morlin is currently expanding her dream and following her heart with a desire of delivering a health solution to the women of PNG.

“This exceptionally talented and driven young woman was the finalist in 2015, The Kumul Game Changer program,” she said.

The Kumul Game Changers initiative, launched by UNDP with the support of the Australian Government in 2014 is aligned to the PNG National Government’s SME Policy.

Ms Morlin’s idea, to deliver an app that will allow women direct access to an online medical consultation with a doctor, won her a scholarship to pursue her dream.

Ruth, First Papua New Guinean Woman To Own Planes

PNG aviation’s first woman owner

Among many women entrepreneurs from around the Pacific and Papua New Guinea, Ruth Undi is one among them. Emerging from the rich area of Ialibu in the Southern Highlands.
42 year old Ruth, commonly known as “grassroots” mother is the frist Papua New Guinean woman to own and operate an aviation company, Niugini Aviation, which has fleet of three planes.
Despite having no aviation background, brave Ruth bought her first plane in 2011 because she saw the need to service the remote areas not accessible by road. She bought her frist plane, 206 seater aircraft from the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The plane was used to transport medical supplies to remote areas. Mining companies also hire the plane for private charters.
As the demand grew she went ahead to approached New Zealand and bought two more air craft. The mother of four doesn’t want to be branded as a trailblazer for women in the aviation industry. She said “she is not there yet.”

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Ruth attributes her success to a supporting husband and employees. “When you employ the right people and properly compensate them, they will perform to the best of their ability. My husband has always been there for me when I was taking the risks, she said.
Ruth has bigger plans for the future – one of which is the upgrade of her fleet to 19-seater Twin Otters to service other parts of PNG. This will mean the upgrade of the airline’s operating license.
Ruth also owns a construction company, Kana Construction, in Port Moresby, while her husband Ron operates an insurance company.
Ruth committed K1 million as seed capital to Ialibu-Pangia Mama Halipim Mama Financial Services to help them venture into agriculture and start-up small business to sustain their livelihood.
Rarely will you find people like Ruth, who generously gives back something worth K1 million back to the community. As a woman growing up in the village and seeing the struggles and hardships of her mother and other women faced in the community, she was inspired to contribute something profitable back to her people.
Her Husband Roxon Undi and her family and relatives were shocked to hear her K1 million contribution to the Mama Halipim Mama Financial Services.
“For me, the sky is the limit. I will tell my story once I have achieved everything that I have dreamt,” Ruth said.

Go to this link for more: https://www.pngfacts.com/news/ruth-first-papua-new-guinean-woman-to-own-planes 

Late Iambakey Okuk's Family in USA

Post on facebook page- The Informationist

PNG's "most colorful and controversial politician" Sir Iambakey Okuk died in 1986 but his legacy will live forever throughout ages.
Okuk was a popular political figure in PNG. Described by many as the man with 7 brains, his name lives forever in the history books of this great nation.
Okuk was the mastermind behind what is now the Air Niugini Airlines, the famous highlands highway, RamuAgriSugar and a few other Orginazations still existing today.
Iambakey Okuk was one of the greatest minds and leader in PNG. He served as Deputy Prime Minister, the nation's first Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, and repeatedly in the capacity of Minister of Transport, Minister of Primary Industries and Opposition Leader. He is known as PNG's "most colorful and controversial politician".
Iambakey first led protests against unfair labor practices, and then once elected to office, worked to reserve sectors of the economy for citizens as a method of returning a complex economic role to Papua New Guineans.
In the post-independence decade, Iambakey built a coalition of minority political factions which forced the successful change of government, in which he became Deputy Prime Minister.
Okuk was raised in Mt Hagen but he contested elections in Wabag, Simbu, and then Ungai Bena in Eastern Highlands during his active years. This made him the most popular political figure in the history of PNG.
During his glory days, he married American Lecturer Lizabeth Ryder. Lizabeth is the mother of Okuk's last daughter( her only) Niki Okuk. Behind every successful man, there is always a strong woman and in this case Okuk gets all the glory but Lizabeth was the mastermind behind Okuk's political career.
Okuk was a smart talker, Lizabeth was a great thinker, together they had great plans and visions for PNG and worked together with the rest of our founding fathers.
If Okuk was still alive, this nation would have seen greater changes in terms of development. Lizabeth a very faithful Christian from USA was the advisor of her husband Okuk and they aimed for Prime Ministership. They planned to develop PNG into a greater nation. Unfortunately Okuk's life was short lived when he died from liver cancer in 1986. His legacy remains forever.
Lizabeth Ryder and daughter Niki Okuk left for US after Okuk's death. Lizabeth has never married. The 65 years old is presently a Lecturer at California State University in Los Angeles. She has been teaching in various State Universities in USA ever since.
Daughter Niki Okuk grew up in Los Angeles and majored in economics at Columbia University. After working in development with the office of Joseph Stiglitz and working in finance in Korea and Singapore, Okuk completed her MBA with Nanyang University in Singapore, including a sustainability certificate at Sloan School of Business at MIT.
She is currently working to create social and economic justice and worker dignity in California, USA. She believes that when workers own companies, the economy is more resilient. Her objective is to create more worker owned businesses in USA.
Niki Okuk founded Rco Tires in 2012. They've since recycled more than 300 million pounds of rubber, diverting 70 million gallons of oil from landfills with 16 employees, making it one of southern California's largest sustainability plants. Rco creates alternative uses for trash tires, turning them into new products. Because of Okuk's progressive hiring and management practices, it provides stable jobs for local black and Latino residents who struggle to find employment because of past criminal convictions or legal status.
Niki is a very proud Papua New Guinean breaking barriers and making headlines in the US. She travels all over the world but home town Kundiawa is her favourite destination. She often travels to PNG bringing gifts from USA to her Gembogolg people in Chimbu Province.
She recently visited PNG in October 2018 and before that was in September 2016.
Niki is an inspirational PNG women representing PNG at the world stage. She is touching the hearts and lives making differences in the lives of many individuals in America and Papuan New Guinea.

Go to this link for more: https://www.facebook.com/369941363590558/photos/a.370146063570088/413878942530133/?type=3&theater&ifg=1

Meet the 2019 SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award winner

Posted on Post Courier

A grade 10 school leaver who is also a big dreamer and does not give up easily, Vani K Nades, has taken the extra mile to make her dream a reality.
Vani’s story is one of perseverance and her journey is an inspiration to Papua New Guinean women.
Being educated in the village and falling short in her grade 10 marks did not deter Vani’s fighting spirit to succeed in life.
Vani worked hard, broke barriers and earned herself an international degree from Australia’s Southern Cross University.
Vani has led more than 100 employees with 12 managers of different business units during her time with one of the best institutions, now a university – the Institute of Business Studies. The institute focuses on giving a second chance to school leavers, creating competency training for corporate clients and youth empowerment programs.
Vani, an emerging female leader, has already made a difference and significant contribution to the business community and the nation.
She left her full time job five years ago to start her own business, Emstret Holdings Limited. It is an internet service provider in PNG focusing on giving access to rural schools and communities.
In just five years of taking the bold step to become an entrepreneur, Vani achieved the following:
– Founder and chief executive officer of Emstret Holdings Limited;
– Founder of Voices and Villages Foundation Inc – a charity arm of Emstret Holdings focused on impacting the communities through education, health, agriculture, clean water and solar solutions;
– Owned rental properties;
– Initiated Emstret School Challenge program that involves debate, spelling bee and poetry that have been running for 10 years;
– Initiated Melanesian school debate championships since 2014;
– Created history in PNG by sponsoring PNG’s first debate team to participate in world championships in Croatia in 2018;
– Became a TedEd club member in 2018, focusing on children from eight to 18 years;
– Established Little CEO Pizza Company Limited; and
– About to launch Emstret Space – a co-working space for startup SME and community space.
Growing up in the rural village, Vani experienced firsthand daily struggles. She was determined to make a change.
Vani started her charity foundation and her projects in the Central Province in collaboration with donors and partners included:
– Education: Building classrooms, providing text books and library books, stationeries and donating solar lighting to schools;
– Water and sanitation projects that were recently completed for Magautou village;
– Health: Providing free medical services to villages like Kalo, Hula, Kamali and Kerema in Gulf province; and
– Supplying food to flood victims;
Vani’s continuous work in various programs and her contribution to nation building in PNG has gained her the following recognition and awards;
– Southern Cross University Australia Annual Entrepreneur Award, 2018;
– PNG LNG ExxonMobil MSME Digital Innovation Award, 2018 (ABAC MSME Summit);
– NASFUND People’s Choice Award, 2018 (ABAC MSME Summit);
– ZUMBA Fitness Instructor;
– Professional Certificate in Marketing, Chartered Institute of Marketing UK (2017);
– Bachelors Degree in Accounting, 2000 (Southern Cross University, Australia); and
– Board member of POM Chamber of Commerce and PNG Institute of Directors.
Having demonstrated good governance, accountability and transparency in her work, Vani was named as a finalist, in a pool of three, in the Westpac Outstanding Women (WOW) Award in the SP Brewery Entrepreneur category.
On Friday, March 8, 2019, winners of the WOW Awards were announced as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations at the Gateway Hotel in Port Moresby.
SP Brewery managing director, Stan Joyce, announced Vani Nades as the winner of the SP Brewery Entrepreneur award.
Thrilled with her award, Vani said: “It’s a great privilege to receive this award from SP Brewery because SP supports SMEs and entrepreneurs.
“To be recognised by SP Brewery will go a long way to help support my business. With the support and recognition from a big company like SP Brewery, my business is motivated to keep striving.”
She said the win has given her the drive to push her boundaries to look for solutions and make an impact in the community.
“It is my dream to make the internet accessible to everyone in the community,” she said.
Mr Joyce said: “It’s important for big companies like SP to support local SMEs as this helps grow PNG’s economy.”
Vani’s entrepreneurial spirit and innovative ideas are guided by her personal values and beliefs that govern her actions daily.
This has earned her respect and integrity in the business community and has paved way for her businesses to prosper.

Go to this link for more: https://postcourier.com.pg/meet-2019-sp-brewery-entrepreneur-award-winner/

Activist Awarded International Women of Courage Award

By U.S. Embassy Port Moresby 

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: U.S. Embassy Port Moresby is pleased to announce that Veronica Simogun has been honored as the East Asia and Pacific awardee for the 2017 U.S. Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award. Ms. Simogun was honored as this year’s awardee in recognition of her work as an advocate for women and children who have been victims of violence.

U.S. Ambassador Catherine Ebert-Gray said she was thrilled to honor Veronica as the 2017 nominee for the International Women of Courage Award for Papua New Guinea.

“Veronica is very deserving of the International Women of Courage Award based on her consistent actions and courageous stance on rescuing, defending and caring for women and children who are survivors of violence,” Ambassador Ebert-Gray said. “She is a change agent for the human rights of women and children in Papua New Guinea.”

The U.S. Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award honors women around the globe who have exemplified exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for human rights, women’s equality, and social progress — often at great personal risk.

Ms Simogun is in Washington, D.C. for the official awards ceremony and a program of activities as part of the State Department’s observance of International Women’s Day in March. The program began on March 25 will continue through April 8 in the United States. Ms. Simogun will return to PNG on April 10.

Ms. Simogun is the founder of the Family for Change Association based in Wewak, East Sepik Province. Because of the support she provides for victims of violence, her own life has been threatened yet she continues to work tirelessly and selflessly.

Ms. Simogun started Family for Change in response to the high levels of family violence that she was seeing in her community. She has taken a courageous stance in rescuing and caring for vulnerable women and children in the face of threats of violence and verbal intimidation directed at her. Because of her work to protect them from abusive partners and relatives and to find safe homes for victims, she has become a hero to thousands in her community.

Family for Change has provided support services for more than 6,000 cases.  The Association has also repatriated or safely reintegrated more than 60 survivors of domestic violence, providing durable solutions in a society where there are few options for women who choose to leave abusive relationships.  In addition, Ms. Simogun has developed a program which she presents in schools to address the root causes of family violence and promote behavior change for men and boys.

When asked to describe what keeps her going in the face of such danger, Ms. Simogun said that she is not bothered when people harass or threaten her. She believes in protecting the women and children who are victims of violence in East Sepik province and that through education and awareness, her generation can influence young men and boys to become supportive partners in violence-free homes.

Go to this link for more: https://pg.usembassy.gov/activist-awarded-international-women-courage-award/

A voice for the voiceless

BY ANCILLA WRAKUALE - Post Courier

Dealing with sorcery related violence in a place like Papua New Guinea is very challenging and risky and it’s not for the fainted hearts.

Sorcery is a dark space of its own in most places in PNG and not many people are brave enough to stand up to seek justice for the vulnerable and voiceless that continue to fall victims to sorcery accusation related violence (SARV). Sorcery related violence in PNG is a very complex issue because it doesn’t concern just an individual but a tribe and community as a whole.

Some weeks back leading to the Christmas period last year, I was privileged enough to chat with one of a strong advocate against sorcery related violence in PNG.

Let me introduce you to Ruth Julie Kissam. They say a strong woman stands up for herself but a stronger woman stands up for everyone else and that is exactly how I would describe Ruth’s courageous spirit.

Ruth, who turned 39 last November, likes to think that she is from Papua New Guinea and not just Enga where her parents originated from. She said the electoral and regional boundaries are just boundaries set up by people but this nation is an amazing mixture of cultures and people and she feels she’s every one of them.

They say a strong woman stands up for herself but a stronger woman stands up for everyone

She was born in Mt Hagen in Western Highlands Province and brought up mostly in rural areas especially in the Highlands region where her late dad was a dedicated pastor with the Assemblies of God (AOG) Church until his peaceful passing in 2018.

After completing her secondary education in Mt Hagen, Ruth was selected to study Law at the University of Papua New Guinea but just half way through her studies; she did a selfless thing by shelving her studies to take care of her three younger brothers after her mother became ill.
Ruth comes from a family of seven and she is the 4th born in the family. Her greatest inspiration in her work comes from her late father who has taught her all she needed about how to live and lead her life and most importantly helping others first.

Ruth is currently working as the Operations Director with Tribal Foundation- a not for profit organisation that works in the areas of education, gender based discrimination and violence and health.

Ruth was the lady that claimed the body of the late Leniata Kepari and buried her in Mt Hagen when no one else could after the body was in the morgue for several months in 2013.

She said she’s always been passionate about people and she believes that everyone deserves a fair chance in life and are special in their own ways.

She said her biggest inspiration in life comes from her late father. She said her father was her sole motivator and never discourages her from doing anything that she can. My dad always tells me that I am no different to my brothers and I can be anything I want. “I like the way he approaches things” she recalled the fond childhood memories, wearing a big smile on her face.

If there’s a conflict or trouble somewhere and I’m going out to assist, he wouldn’t stop me. Instead he would tell me to be careful on the road, ensure I have spare tyres and enough fuel for the trip.

The 39 year old said her only wish for women and girls in PNG is for them to have a safe place to walk around freely. “I hate the fact that I have to always look over my shoulder when going out and I don’t want to do that. “I wish for a place where our women and girls can just be themselves. I wish for a country where our girls can be themselves, fearless and see the world as their oyster”, she said.
In recognition of all her efforts in working in the dark space of sorcery related violence in PNG, Ruth was nominated for the Trukai Community Award for the 2017 Westpac Outstanding Women (WOW) award. Ruth’s nomination came out as the successful recipient of the Trukai Community Award. On the night of the Awards, Ruth was surprisingly named as the overall winner of the 2017 WOW awards.
“There were two things about that award that stood out for me. “The feeling was surreal…it was just unbelievable”, she recalled. It was unbelievable not because I won the overall WOW awards. It was unbelievable because for the first time corporate houses through the WOW awards actually recognised the work that we do in the dark space of sorcery. The win was not for me as Ruth Kissam. It was a win for all the human right defenders she said.

She also acknowledged Trukai Industries Ltd for sponsoring the category award of Community Awards where she was the final winner. Trukai Industries Ltd was one of the founding sponsors of this initiative initiated by Westpac since its inception 11 years in 2008 investing almost K400, 000 so far.

The company also donate K10, 000 on top of its normal sponsorship to the winner’s preferred charity of choice each year to help those charities and community based organisations progress the great work that they are already doing in the community.

Last year, Ruth received her K10, 000 donation from Trukai and she donated the money to three different NGOs to help them progress their respective goals and objectives in the areas of health and education.

She acknowledged Trukai Industries Ltd for the support including all other corporate sponsors for supporting this great platform where women are recognised for their efforts and commitment towards developing PNG in their various capacities in their own communities.

Go to this link for more:https://postcourier.com.pg/weekender-2/

Raylance scoops overall WOW Award

BY MELISHA YAFOI - Post Courier

Twenty-four year old Raylance Mesa from Tami Island in Morobe is the proud overall winner for the Westpac Outstanding Women (WOW) Awards 2019.
Miss Mesa took out the IBBM young achievers award as well as the overall winner for her contributions towards development and climate change mitigation.
Raylance initiated the rebuilding of Tami Island Primary School sea wall, improving infrastructure and building teachers’ houses, and is educating people on the island about the impacts of a changing climate.
In 2018 she was recognised for the work with the United Nations Seventh Day Youth Development Award, and in 2017 the Commonwealth Youth for Excellence in Community Development.
She was among six other winners for categories including ExxonMobil PNG LNG Public Sector Award winner Betty Jacobs, Moore Printing Sports Award winner Margaret Aka, PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Sector award winner Hillary Turnamur, SP Brewery Entreprenuer Award winner Vani K Nades, Steamships Not for Profit award winner Petra Arifeae and the winner for the Trukai Community award Freda K Yakio.
There were 21 finalists for these seven categories.
“Standing here, it’s an honor and a great privilege for me, it’s only me, I am representing thousands of people back home and I am grateful for this opportunity and it will go along way for me, not only for me but for the people that I represent,”she said.
“I started when I was 16 years old, looking back it was quite a real journey seeing people’s lives improve and having to have the opportunity to represent these less fortunate, it’s quite an extra ordinary journey for me as well.
“A challenge or a situation wouldn’t be successfully achieved if that doesn’t have other views to it, it will work when we consider both men and women so it’s like a partnership that we should build in our societies so if we want to see things change, then we all have to work together to achieve these things,” she said.

Go to this link for more: https://postcourier.com.pg/raylance-scoops-overall-wow-award-2019/

Doing What You Can Really Does Matter

BY MELISHA YAFOI-Post Courier

At the age of 16, Raylance Mesa knew what she needed to do to help her people back home in the beautiful Island of Tami, Morobe Province.
She was just a simple high school student attending Lae Secondary School but had a heart of gold for her people.
The Post-Courier had a chance to talk to Raylance and her proud dad Mr Mesa after she won the IBBM Young entrepreneur and the overall Westpac Outstanding Women award for 2019.
When asked about what inspired her to do what she did, the now 24-year-old proudly told the paper that her trips to her village every school holidays enabled her to see and understand the problems and challenges hundreds of people on the island face on a day to day basis.
She said the two main things were the awareness on climate change and education.
Ms Mesa said because she was fortunate to be given an education in town (Lae), it enabled her to realise the imbalance that is happening in societies across the country and opened her eyes to see the needs of her people back in Tami.
“That was the drive that inspired me.
“I really wanted to help my people I want to at least get something to them that you know at least it’s something similar to the opportunities that I have,” Raylance said.
She said it all started with awareness, basically sharing everything that she had learnt in school with those in the village and to her amazement, the people were very eager to listen and learn about the things she was telling them.
“I keep telling them that we can’t wait for the government to wait for things to come to us, we have to do something so that’s when it all started.
“I started carrying out awareness with a couple of friends, with my mum, brothers and my dad and they’ve been always supportive in what I was doing,” she said.
Soon enough that awareness spiked up some interest among the community leaders who wanted to do something about the effects of climate change on the island.
Raylance said the community leaders, after being educated on the impacts of climate change, wanted to do more so they started consulting her on ideas or things that they could do to help the community.
She said after consultations and discussions and with her guidance as the architect of the project, they went and mobilised the community to begin work on the island.
“Basically we try to look at the problems that are on the island like climate change which they were not aware of, so I created talks and awareness to educate the people and eventually my uncles helped me to talk to the people,” she said.
“We educated the people and with their willingness we built sea walls out of dead coral reefs and coconut trunks.
“The young men in the village were really eager to do something for the community and it was quite an achievement for them as well,” she said.
Apart from this small but significant project, the drive to do more began to grow and that led her to help with the renovation and building of classrooms for the Tami Island Primary school.
She said it was indeed a sad scenario because in 2013 the school was still serving as a community school with only two teachers including the head master, the oldest student was a 25-year-old doing grade five.
“At this age you could already be in college or working so that also indicated that there was really a problem,
she said.
“So people started building classrooms, they renovated the guest house and use whatever they could find on the island. Eventually, they upgraded the school from a community school to a primary school.
They now have grade eights and they bought a laptop, printer and a generator to start off. We have come a long way and we now have desk for students and eight teachers for each grade so it’s quite a good number now, before there were only two.”
Raylance said the small work that she did with the help of friends, family and community members has exposed her to many organisations that get to recognise what she did.
“They wanted to lend a hand to help with the projects that I do and we even have Australian companies like Sago studios who wanted to do awareness and bring something to the island.
“They even visit the island as well to see what was going on,” she said.
Raylance said there’s a quite a lot still to do but she is picking up one thing at a time so that she can identify what’s important that the people would need urgently and then what can be done later on.
“My encouragement would be all of us are talented and gifted in different ways, probably I am good with what I do in architecture and I help communities with infrastructure and all that.
“But one of our fellow ladies could be interested in nursing or something or you could at least lend a hand, just a little thing it would go a long way for people,” she said.
When the paper asked her dad Mr Mesa about his daughter’s achievement, he was speechless with pride at how much his daughter has achieved.
He said when Raylance first approached him with this idea, his only advice was go for it and I will give you the support that you need.
“I am so proud, I am speechless.
“Because at the end of the day she is helping my people back home,” Mr Mesa said.
Raylance will be graduating next month at the University of Technology with a Bachelor in Architect.
She is currently completing her graduate program with ExxonMobil PNG.

Go to this link for more: https://postcourier.com.pg/can-really-matter/

Making Oil and Gas a Woman’s job

Posted on The National

It takes passion, drive and hunger to be the best, according to Gloria Arabagali.
With a background in computer science and business, Arabagali became the first woman and citizen staff at Oil Search to nationalise the Sydney-based PNG Oil and Gas reporting analyst’s role in 2016
According to Oil Search, Arabagali did not stop there and has recently been promoted to financial planning and analysis supervisor with the business unit in Port Moresby.
From the Juha clan in Hela , Arabagali joined Oil Search in 2014 through a graduate development programme and said a defining moment in her career was the opportunity to present the annual budget at a joint venture Partners Technical Committee meeting in 2016 and ’17.
“That was definitely a highlight for me,” she said.
As the financial planning and analysis supervisor, she’s now responsible for each of the business unit financial reporting cycles such as the monthly and quarterly forecasts and annual budget.
She is also responsible for reviewing and coordinating all joint venture financial data in collaboration with the business unit planning team and looks to identify and execute projects that are focused on continuous improvement opportunities.
Arabagali enjoys the work environment at Oil Search and says she feels privileged to work alongside highly skilled individuals in the fields of science and business.
“Oil Search provides an environment for employees to learn and grow in the oil and gas industry irrespective of gender,” she said. “It has an amazing pool of leaders from Peter Botten, the CEO right down to the managers who have this deep sense of commitment to develop future leaders for the company and for PNG. It’s all about having the passion, the drive and hunger to be the best in any profession.”
Has she any advice for women?
“Take an aggressive approach towards learning and never limit yourself,” she said. “Science is for all and I encourage young women and girls to conquer and dominate.”

Go to this link: https://www.thenational.com.pg/making-oil-gas-womans-job/