Femili PNG hosted a tenth anniversary Gala Dinner on 3rd August at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby to commemorate a decade of assisting survivors of family and sexual violence in Lae, Port Moresby, Goroka and throughout Papua New Guinea.
More than 400 individuals attended this special and remarkable event, including many dignitaries. Seventeen companies threw support by sponsoring the event. Apart from this, 14 business houses purchased dinner tables while groups of friends and individuals also bought tables and seats.
The purpose of the gala dinner was to profile Femili PNG’s decade of life-changing work, and raise funds to support its works for survivors of family and sexual violence.
Femili PNG was honored by the speeches given by the PNG Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, the Australian High Commissioner to PNG, H.E John Feakes, PNG High Commissioner to Australia and Femili PNG Patron, H.E John Ma’o Kali, Australian Ambassador for Gender Equality & Femili PNG Board Member, Ms Stephanie Copus Campbell, Secretary of the PNG Department of Justice and Attorney General and Femili PNG Board Member, Dr Eric Kwa. Many other dignitaries also attended, too many to mention.
Invited speakers made incredible speeches and applauded a decade of Femili PNG’s work assisting survivors. The Prime Minister Hon. James Marape said: “If the laws we have today are not sufficient the mothers and daughters of this country have every right to yell, shout, scream and protest to change law.
The Chair of Bel isi PNG, Ms Jean Martin challenged everyone at the Gala night to make a difference when and where they can. She also invited business houses to subscribe to Bel isi PNG for their employees to access case management services operated by Femili PNG.
At the dinner, we also launched a new video on Femili PNG and two new reports.
During the Gala, participants excitingly participated in a silent auction and lucky draws, and many pledged donations. Twenty survivor-made bilums were on display and were sold to the highest bidder.
Femili PNG CEO, Daisy Plana thanked everyone for showing strong support. “It is hard to believe we’ve got such a big and distinguished turnout. And very humbling. So thank you very much,” says Daisy. She appealed to the Prime Minister and PNG government to support and sustain the work of Femili PNG and other NGOs and government institutions that are addressing the issue of gender-based violence.
You can download the commemorative Gala Dinner booklet here. The Gala Dinner was a great success in raising our profile and in providing much needed funds. Thanks to all our sponsors and those who bought a table.
