***aCe***
by JAMES KILA
OVER 10,000 from all over Henganofi district converged on Mehenave village in the Fayantina area of Eastern Highlands province last week to witness the official launch of the Negiland Community Association resource center.
The occasion was celebrated colorfully in the typical Highlands tradition which, included slaughtering of seven cows, 26-pigs and 17 goats. Traditional sing-sing began two days before the actual event and continued on a until the formalities of the launching ceremony was completed.
People from all over Henganofi district tribes namely, Kafetina, Kamanotina, Tevega, Dunantina and Fayantina joined in the occasion and went away satisfied with what they witnessed. The four main clans of Mehenave village are Tupungke, Moguru, Kupunofi and Megusanofi.
The new Negiland community resource center was official opened by the chairman Natural of Natural Resources and Agriculture Livestock of the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government, Orike Bao.
Notably, the resource center was a result of the villagers organizing themselves to work with available resources for the betterment of the community. In fact, the association has never approach any government bodies or donor agencies for support. It utilized its own resources to start.
In his remarks, Mr Bao acknowledged the effort of the Mehenave community in initiating the project which he stated would help facilitate development in their community.
Mr Bao also urged leaders in government to move into the rural community to work with the rural people and understand what their real needs.
Additionally, the project is also a result after the community realized that minimum or nil government services was reaching the people in the area.
Advisor of the Natural Resource Division of the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government, Mr Brian Wai who spoke at the ceremony told the people of Mehenave that their association has made history when it received it certificate of registration from the Investment Promotion Authority.
“You made history because you submitted your application just last December and received your response in March. This is a short time and I congratulate you on your achievement,”
The Natural Resources Division of the EHPG has been working as facilitators to kick-starting the project.
The Negiland Community Association comprises people from Mehenave and the surround hamlets. The association was formed in December 2003, and through its more organized approach managed to register itself with the Investment Promotion Authority early this year, amazingly in a short space of time.
According to the chairman of the NCA, Warrior Anofi, the project is solely initiated by the community themselves when rice seedlings was introduced to them by the JUNCAO Technology of China just year.
“The presentation of seedlings and realizing that our land is blessed with fertility of the soil we decided to move further to establishing a vehicle to facilitate our effort in the village level,” Mr Anofi stated.
He said there are 12 people in the executives of the association, including one women representative.
“It is our desire to work from the bottom up, meaning from the rural communities up so that people feel responsible and people do it at no cost to the government,” Mr Anofi stated.
“If the community can sustain in such community based project then the change can change,” Mr Biroro added.
He said the root cause in law and order in towns and rural areas of the country is because of frustration by youths. Therefore, the setting up of such community project would help them become occupied in community work.
“When projects are developed in the village communities to help youths then they will not be migrating to town and end up jobless thus resorting to lawlessness and criminal activities,” Mr Biroro said.
Ends…./
Pigs on display at launching of Negiland resource centre.
OVER 10,000 from all over Henganofi district converged on Mehenave village in the Fayantina area of Eastern Highlands province last week to witness the official launch of the Negiland Community Association resource center.
The occasion was celebrated colorfully in the typical Highlands tradition which, included slaughtering of seven cows, 26-pigs and 17 goats. Traditional sing-sing began two days before the actual event and continued on a until the formalities of the launching ceremony was completed.
People from all over Henganofi district tribes namely, Kafetina, Kamanotina, Tevega, Dunantina and Fayantina joined in the occasion and went away satisfied with what they witnessed. The four main clans of Mehenave village are Tupungke, Moguru, Kupunofi and Megusanofi.
The new Negiland community resource center was official opened by the chairman Natural of Natural Resources and Agriculture Livestock of the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government, Orike Bao.
Notably, the resource center was a result of the villagers organizing themselves to work with available resources for the betterment of the community. In fact, the association has never approach any government bodies or donor agencies for support. It utilized its own resources to start.
In his remarks, Mr Bao acknowledged the effort of the Mehenave community in initiating the project which he stated would help facilitate development in their community.
Mr Bao also urged leaders in government to move into the rural community to work with the rural people and understand what their real needs.
Additionally, the project is also a result after the community realized that minimum or nil government services was reaching the people in the area.
Advisor of the Natural Resource Division of the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government, Mr Brian Wai who spoke at the ceremony told the people of Mehenave that their association has made history when it received it certificate of registration from the Investment Promotion Authority.
“You made history because you submitted your application just last December and received your response in March. This is a short time and I congratulate you on your achievement,”
The Natural Resources Division of the EHPG has been working as facilitators to kick-starting the project.
The Negiland Community Association comprises people from Mehenave and the surround hamlets. The association was formed in December 2003, and through its more organized approach managed to register itself with the Investment Promotion Authority early this year, amazingly in a short space of time.
According to the chairman of the NCA, Warrior Anofi, the project is solely initiated by the community themselves when rice seedlings was introduced to them by the JUNCAO Technology of China just year.
“The presentation of seedlings and realizing that our land is blessed with fertility of the soil we decided to move further to establishing a vehicle to facilitate our effort in the village level,” Mr Anofi stated.
He said there are 12 people in the executives of the association, including one women representative.
“It is our desire to work from the bottom up, meaning from the rural communities up so that people feel responsible and people do it at no cost to the government,” Mr Anofi stated.
“If the community can sustain in such community based project then the change can change,” Mr Biroro added.
He said the root cause in law and order in towns and rural areas of the country is because of frustration by youths. Therefore, the setting up of such community project would help them become occupied in community work.
“When projects are developed in the village communities to help youths then they will not be migrating to town and end up jobless thus resorting to lawlessness and criminal activities,” Mr Biroro said.
Ends…./
Pigs on display at launching of Negiland resource centre.