Sam*, a13 year old boy from a Highlands Province is now living in safety and continuing his education after escaping years of abuse from his father.
His Story
Sam* and his younger brother reportedly endured ongoing verbal and physical abuse in their home. The children had grown up in an environment marked by violence and fear.
According to a Femili PNG case officer, their father frequently threatened the boys with chilling words in Tok Pisin: “Ba mi putim busnaip go insait long bel bilong yutupela na kilim yutupela. (“I will murder you both.”)
The situation escalated on 12 February 2025, when Sam returned home after spending the night with relatives. His father reportedly came out holding a bush knife and physically attacked him. Sam managed to escape, grabbing his school bag and fleeing to his grandmother’s village. His grandmother refused to send him back and agreed to care for him.
Femili PNG’s Intervention
The matter was reported to Femili PNG, which provides support for survivors of family and sexual violence. A caseworker assisted the family in applying for an Interim Protection Order (IPO), with Femili PNG’s in-house lawyer authorising Sam’s grandmother to apply on his behalf. The IPO was granted, followed by a Permanent Protection Order (PPO).
As part of the support provided, Sam was enrolled in primary school, where he continues his education. Femili PNG also assisted his grandmother with a small business start-up kit, enabling her to establish a retail business that now generates income to support Sam’s daily needs and schooling.
While Sam lives safely with his grandmother, arrangements have been made for him to occasionally visit his younger brother, who remains with their father.
This case study highlights the importance of community support systems and organisations like Femil PNG in protecting vulnerable children and helping survivors rebuild their lives through safety, education and economic empowerment.
The care, love and support provided to Sam through Femili PNG in coordination with service providers was made possible by the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and FemiliPNG Australia.
*Not his real name
Supported by ANCP funding, FemiliPNG Australia partners with Femili PNG for the Goroka Outpost project (the Outpost). The Outpost provides information and support for family and sexual violence (FSV) and sorcery accusation related violence (SARV) for community members in the Highlands of PNG. The Outpost was designed to address a key gap in the Highlands, creating stable, accessible local services for survivors. Read more about the Outpost here.
