Partnership is important in serving the community

By BUSISI SIWAKA of DAL

 

Public and private partnership between government agencies, non-government organisations, community groups, business houses and local community is important in promoting better livelihood.

One good example is the community work carried out by the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation (PNG) Inc, through its network of Couples for Christ members, in and around the Gerehu suburb of Port Moresby.

One of the partners it is working closely with is the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, which has actively promoted food self-sufficiency including rice cultivation and teaching livelihood skills.

DAL has already been given special recognition for promoting agriculture and good livelihood within the community around the Gerehu suburb, which comprises mostly of landowners of Koitabuan origin and settlers.

Alex Sanny, who has worked with the community on behalf of Gawad Kalinga, says the organisation is doing a good community service and there are positive changes having an impact on people from different ethnic backgrounds and not only Koitabu people.

Gerehu and its settlements on the fringes are regarded as unsafe but that is slowly changing, thanks to the efforts by Gawad Kalinga and its partners, he said.

Many people are beginning to show interest in the group’s activities, which include farming, youth and church activities.

Mr Sanny, a Bougainvillean married to a Koitabu woman, said there had been overwhelming support from organisations such as Super Value Stores, National Capital District Commission, City Pharmacy Ltd, PNG Power Ltd, Digicel and others. Infrastructure and facilities that have been established included houses, a pre-school, clinic and a multi-purpose hall for community activities.

He said with DAL, some livelihood projects had already been implemented including backyard gardening and floriculture.

Plans are underway for development of livestock projects in poultry and piggery.

More residents are being encouraged to venture into agriculture farming activities.

DAL’s women in agriculture development unit and food security branch, and Fresh Produce Development Agency, have been in the forefront in encouraging the residents, mainly local landowners, to grow their own vegetable gardens and produce rice for consumption.

Mr Sanny said the most-important thing was that everything was being done through the Lord’s blessings and he urged all stakeholders to maintain that Christian spirit and continue the good work.