The Goroka Case Management Centre is the newest of Femili PNG’s three CMCs in Lae, POM and Goroka. Nevertheless, we are a national organisation and it was important to celebrate our tenth anniversary in all three locations where we have established a CMC. The Goroka CMC held its celebration on Tuesday July 30.
Femi Roy, Information Officer at the Goroka Office, was the MC. The opening prayer was made by Pastor James. Femili PNG HR Officer, Dellah Maiak, delivered remarks on behalf of Femili PNG’s CEO; and Ms Elly Toimbo, Goroka Program Manager, spoke on behalf of the Goroka CMC. Other government and service delivery partners also attended and had a chance to speak.
Community Development Advisor Ms Siviri Lalave of Eastern Highlands Province highlighted that her office has been a key partner to Femili PNG since the opening of the Goroka CMC in 2021, building links with government and non-government partners and providing Femili PNG with an office space for CMC.
Ms Siviri said, “Femili PNG has helped us a lot, Community Development officers were trained. Items like computers were provided for our office, other support such as fuel for our vehicle was provided. Femili PNG has also helped other non-government organisations. Thank you, Femili PNG; you have brought all of us together and have filled in the gaps for us. Thank you for supporting us to look after the survivors.’’
Femili PNG Chair, Professor Stephen Howes and his wife, Dr Clare Holberton travelled to Goroka from Lae and attended the celebration. Dr Holberton’s remarks: “What impressed me was how well Femili PNG works with its partners and the turn out of partners. I was particularly struck by the work done on sorcery related violence. Australian domestic violence centres would have had difficulty coping with the high number of clients seen in Goroka. Many partners talked about the need for long term funding. Too often donor funding was short term and limited to specific projects. It is so important that Femili PNG stays in Goroka for some time. As an Australian supporting Femili PNG with donations, I am confident that the funds will be well used.”
A few weeks after the Goroka celebration, Femili PNG and the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government signed an MOU to further their cooperation.
In addition, the new Femili PNG video that was launched during the tenth anniversary dinner has a special focus on Goroka.
The Goroka CMC was established with support from UN Spotlight and currently receives funding from FemiliPNG Australia through the Australian Government – ANCP program and from the Government of Papua New Guinea.
