Busamang village group in the big city

By MALUM NALU

A women’s church group from Busamang village in Salamaua, Morobe province, is in Port Moresby on a special mission to raise funds for several projects in their village.

 Busamang, the largest coastal village in Morobe, is 40 minutes by dinghy from Voco Point in Lae.

This idyllic setting is representative of village life in Morobe.

Miles and miles of endless white sandy beaches, abundant fishing grounds, thatched roof housing, traditional canoes and subsistence agriculture are an everyday part of life for the villagers.

Leaving their scenic village behind, 25 members of the Gabugawe Women’s Group of Busamang are in Port Moresby to exchange gifts with women in the city – a practice known in Morobe as ‘senisim basket’ (exchange of baskets).

Last Saturday, they exchanged gifts with women from the city at the home of Busamang couple Rose and Timon Tomala at Gordon, and then engaged in traditional singsing.

Traditional singsing Busamang style last Saturday to welcome the Gabugawe Women’s Group to the big city.-Picture by MALUM NALU

The group is appealing to Busamang and Morobe residents in the city, as well as leaders, to help them in their fundraising.

“We are here to raise funds for our projects in Port Moresby,’ Gabugawe president, Banuoc Alaung said..

“There are 38 of us in the group, however, only 25 of us are able to come.

“We came here to exchange gifts with mothers in Port Moresby and raise some money.

“We will be staying here for a week.”

Rose Tomala said for many of the women, it was a first, as they had never before been to Port Moresby.

“This is the first time for many of them to come to Port Moresby,” she said.

“I’m very happy to see a lot of people here today to support their cause.”