Training and Outreach is one of Femili PNG’s priority areas to prevent and improve response to family and sexual violence across family homes and communities in Papua New Guinea with an aim to see change and better outcomes in survivor’s lives.
As part of the prevention and strengthening response to abuse and violence across Eastern Highlands Province, Femili PNG, for the first time, developed the concept of engaging community volunteer to work alongside Femili PNG Outreach Officer, Paul Kunump. The initiative aim to offer an avenue where community leaders and youth are actively participating in addressing GBV issue in the community and in the province in general. This approach allows knowledge sharing and community learning on GBV issue. It is the hope that the program participants retain and utilise the knowledge in conducting their own awareness program and in carrying out their daily duties as the leaders in the community.
“I cannot reach all the communities at the same time and on a daily basis but volunteers can because they live in communities”, says Mr Kunump.
In early 2024, Femili PNG Goroka Outpost took on board 16 outreach volunteers from three different districts in Eastern Highlands Province. Most of these volunteers are village court officials, community leaders and youths, who have attended Sensitisation Training that Femili PNG Outreach Officer, Paul Kunump facilitated in 2023. The training inspired each of the outreach volunteers on the work that Femili PNG’s is doing and were enlightened about sorcery accusation related violence (SARV), family violence and government laws. Hence, they have verbalised their voluntary commitment to engage with Femili PNG to learn and develop more.
The volunteers has been selected according to the volunteer criteria set by Femili PNG, once the volunteer has been selected, each has been inducted on Femili PNG’s vision, mission, target populations and its policies. They went through on-going orientation on what they are expected to say when they go into communities to do awareness on SARV, family and sexual violence, child abuse, laws and referral pathways.
Through assistance and guidance of FPNG, each volunteers from Daulo, Lufa and Goroka Urban districts established their yearly awareness activity plans. Femili PNG supports this by incorporating it into Femili PNG’s annual work plan and budget.
Paul said, “I believe in community participation and in empowering community leaders and youths. This approach is effective, they will be the ones to continue the work that we are doing and we are already seeing positive impact”
In acknowledging outreach volunteers, Paul said to volunteers to follow their work plan and continue to do awareness in their respective communities. Apart from the awareness, they should also continue the dialogue with people in any community gatherings and in helping individual and or families who needing guidance and information. “We follow our work plan and do awareness and training. This program has impacted and touch lives of people in my community. They visit my house anytime when they experience violence and myself and wife talk with them and refer them to service providers. In my area, I have seen SARV accusation gone down; men and women who were accused and chased out of the community return and rebuild their lives without fear. Community accept them back and are now having fear to accuse someone of SARV. This was made possible through SARV knowledge gained from our awareness and training messages.
I am happy to see that Femili PNG is giving hope to people, it is showing them their rights to continue living,” said Kevin Koro, one of the volunteers from Goroka Urban in Miminamo LLG.
Through their active work plan, the volunteers organised and conducted successful International Women’s Day and Universal Children’s Day in their respective communities.
Thank you UNDP/Community Development (SARV Funding), World Gold Council and K92 Mining Ltd for your undying support to see this initiative come into existence and making differences in the lives of people.
