United Nations acknowledges Papua New Guinea volunteers on International Volunteer Day, 2011

On International Volunteer Day, 5 December 2011, the United Nations (UN) in PNG would like to thank all the volunteers, local and international, who help make our work such a success. On this day, we commend their dedication, passion and commitment to working for a better PNG and a better world.

Thirteen volunteers who contribute to UN work in PNG have been chosen for special acknowledgement and will each receive a Certificate of Appreciation and a UN gift pack over the coming months. Those volunteers based at the UN office in Port Moresby were thanked at a reception this morning. Details of all 13 volunteers and their contributions to the UN are below.

Today also marks the tenth anniversary since the International Year of the Volunteer (IVD+10), and sees the launch of the first-ever State of the World’s Volunteerism Report.

If you would like further information about International Volunteer Day, copies of the report, or comment or interview, please don’t hesitate to contact UN Communications Officer Lisa Smyth lisa.smyth@one.un.org.

Volunteers acknowledged by the UN on International Volunteer Day, 2011

Christine Kula and Noah Billy – Students from UPNG

Both Christine and Noah are interns with the UN Women Safe Cities project.

They provide pivotal support to the project by coordinating with relevant stakeholders, maintaining a successful relationship with our main implementing partner (NCDC), and supporting the grassroots groups in the markets of Port Moresby.

Mr. Lawrence Konaka - LLG President of Manam Care Centre and Mr. Markis Mombi - Bulolo Care Centre Spokesman

Both are leaders of Manam and Bulolo Care Centres that are in constant liaison with the government, UN and INGOs for longer-term solutions to the displacement of their people.

Mr. Ezekiel Lemez – Bougainville UN office
Ezekiel began his voluntary work immediately after the crisis using his skills as a boxer to encourage youth in sport activities and as a peace facilitator through theater arts, where he created employment opportunities for youth.

Mr. Jerry Wanna - Executive Director of the Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative

For over 7 years, local volunteer Jerry Wanna and key members of the community-based organization known as Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative (SWMI) have worked with 50 villages along the middle and upper Sepik River to protect Sepik’s biological diversity and environment. SWMI is a partner of UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP). Jerry has recently been nominated as the PNG committee member for the 2012 Equator Initiative Awards (EIA). He will be among the other voting members for the 2012 EIAs.

Father Dr. Jan Jaworski, Parish Priest, Chief Surgeon of Kundiawa General Hospital and Founder of United Nauro Gor Association Incorporated, Mingende, Kerowagi District, Simbu Province

After three decades of devastating tribal fighting, the lives of more than 13,000 individuals from the seven tribes of Nauro-Gor are working together towards a better future. This is a result of the dedicated work of Fr. Jaworski, with the key leaders of Nauro-Gor, who formed an umbrella organization called the United Nauro Gor Association Incorporated (UNG). UNDP/GEF SGP partners with Fr. Jan and UNG in reforesting 200 hectares of barren hills and mountains of Gor and its bordering villages where the trees and natural resources were decimated from the onslaught of tribal wars.

Neraemarimahu Haihavu - New Age Woman Deputy Editor

Neraemarimahu worked with the Women in Leadership project, supported by UNDP and United Nations Volunteers (UNV), to develop the Communication and Advocacy Strategy for the Gender and Equality Bill.

Ms. Scola Kakas - President of National Council of Women

Scola has been the voice of women in PNG since the campaign for increasing women`s representation in parliament began. She has mobilized civil society organizations to lobby the government, as well as the general public, to support the Equality and Participation Bill.

Roy Yomilewau

Roy is a grade 7 student at Gordons International School who volunteered in mangrove tree planting and conservation at Tatana village. He thinks volunteering can change the world and is important since it brings people from different parts of the world together.

Edith Lugonvu – UN Volunteer with UNDP

Edith, a UNV from Uganda, has been at the forefront of promoting gender equality in PNG since February 2009. She works directly with the Department for Community Development (DFCD) on women’s participation. 

Emily Fajardo – UN Volunteer, M&E Specialist for the GEF Small Grants Programme, UNDP

Emay Fajardo is a UNV Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist from the Phillipines with the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme (SGP), which partners with local communities to implement and replicate the successful experiences of vulnerable communities responding to specific local environmental issues across the country. "I feel fortunate to be part of SGP programme, as I have the opportunity to learn a great deal from different people as well as to give something in return towards more responsive policies and better projects for communities on sustainable resource management and use." Emay says.

Lisa Smyth – Australian Youth Ambassador for Development with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office

Lisa works as a Communications Officer across the UN System, and since her arrival in May this year she has become an integral member of the UN team in PNG. She works to strengthen relationships with the media, increase awareness of UN work in PNG and support the communication initiatives of the UN agencies.