Jonathan Esiko is a youth representative from Kebara village in Kokoda who participated in one of Femili PNG’s sensitization training programs on family and sexual violence (FSV). After participating in the three-day training conducted to the first batch of participants, Jonathan joined the Femili PNG team in conducting awareness-raising sessions to communities at Kebara and Gorari. He actively participated in sharing information during the sessions, speaking in his local language so that the message delivered could be clearly understood by local community members.
Mr. Esiko is also the youth leader in his church, the Anglican Kebara Holy Name Parish. He said it was his first time to attend training in FSV and found it very useful in his leadership, as it was his interest to do advocacy work in his community. Mr. Esiko added, ‘’When I received this training, I really wanted to go out into the communities and educate the people about the information I received from the training, and to help them live a better life and abide by the laws.’’ Mr. Esiko and other participants have already started implementing their action plans that they presented during the training, which is to organize and carry out awareness sessions in their communities and nearby areas.
In partnership with KTF (Kokoda Track Foundation) under Project Zero, Femili PNG facilitated two programs of sensitization training on FSV, child abuse, related laws and the referral pathways to 43 participants in April this year in Kokoda. The participants included village court officials, community leaders, school teachers, church leaders, KTF staff, community-based police and health workers, and women and youth representatives. The outreach team were also present at the training, and scheduled awareness-raising sessions with the participants to organize in their communities.
During Femili PNG’s outreach team visits to Oro province in February and April this year, the team reached 1,223 men, women and children, including people living with disabilities, in providing awareness on the different forms of FSV, child abuse, child safety rules, and the referral pathway.
The two outreach officers and Femili PNG’s Lae Operations Director Ms. Denga Ilave also facilitated a consultative meeting with core service providers in Popondetta. The meeting included representatives from the Oro Provincial Administration, Anglicare PNG, police, community development, Sohe district office, Red Cross, and KTF. Femili PNG was introduced to the service providers during the meeting, as well as its activities under Project Zero with KTF. Deputy Provincial Administrator (PA) and acting PA at the time Mr. Joseph Mokada chaired the meeting. He appreciated the work done by KTF and Femili PNG, and closed the meeting in saying, ‘’Let me confirm that we have already established a committee in place to address and deal with gender-based violence, intimate partner violence and child abuse in the province and we will carry on from here.’’
Through funding from KTF, Femili PNG was also able to support Anglicare PNG and the Provincial Community Development Office with office stationery, and donated food to a safe house, which is the only existing safe accommodation in Oro province. The partners thanked KTF and Femili PNG for the assistance and looked forward to working in partnership to address FSV in the province.
KTF is an Australian NGO operating in PNG since 2003, working with communities to deliver programs in equality, education, health and leadership. Project Zero is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
