International Bulletin - December 2001
News from PPSEAWA Papua New Guinea
So far this year, we have undertaken in conjunction with the University and AUSAID two training programs. Two years ago I wrote a project proposal on a Student Spouse Training Program with three strands in Family life, Personal Development and Health. AUSAID funded this one through the University and our association is resourcing the training using University facilities. Student spouses here come from all over the Pacific region - Tonga, Fiji, PNG, Solomon Is, Vanuatu, Samoa. The first half of this year was taken up in planning the implementation of the program and organizing.
Lalen Simeon, our Treasurer, conducted a month-long (July) computer skills training in which she taught 24 ladies, half of whom do not have a high school certificate. We are witnessing incredible results. Many of these housewives, whose husbands are students here, are word-processing assignments and assisting in relevant activities of the University and church.
I conducted a week long (first week of August) Christian Leadership Seminar-on the following themes: Leadership Skills, Delegating Responsibilities, Conducting and Managing Committees, Conflict Management and Stress Management for 44 ladies. One of the major problems of Pacific Island women is low self-esteem and the lack of self-confidence because of little or inadequate educational opportunity and more than half the spouses we are working with are exactly of that experience. We are witnessing incredible changes as a result of this training. Several spouses (husbands) have communicated their appreciation of the increased self-esteem, confidence and leadership skills they are witnessing in their own homes. A few of these ladies have been encouraged very much so as to have applied for studies this semester - one Fijian, one Tongan and one Solomon Island (mind you their qualification was to pass a matured entry test). My path crossed that of one at the beginning of this semester and I asked what she was doing at the Registrars office (she was enrolling for studies), she replies jokingly; "it is all your fault, you psyched us up to believe we can do anything we set our minds to do". I just said "wow!"
I have realised that genuine peace has to start with a liberated conscience where one either feels secure or confident or believe in their worth. Then they too could extend a hand to support others to experience the same.
We awarded a certificate of participation to each of our participants during a graduation ceremony where I did some PR for PPSEAWA as a whole. The AUSAID representative who came was very impressed with what we are doing and also because this is rightfully a regional project. I am happy with the progress of this project.
As you may have realised, this work is a great work because there are enormous amounts of needs. Yet my own vision is to take a bottom up approach in terms of development and education and to network resources and personnel to implement programs and projects. One of the benefits of this is to facilitate a bridging of the gap between grassroots and educated/qualified women. Qualified women need to be more responsible role models for the underprivileged. Here at PAU we already see the positive benefits.
It is planned to have a national launch of PPSEAWA-PNG some time in 2002.
Last Modified: November 29, 2002