| Sports |
Teamwork - key to
success
By HILDA WAYNE
A contributing factor to the success
of a community programme or project is teamwork.
And a team of about forty international and national staff from
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on a retreat to the
Highlands saw how true this is with regards to implementation of
their organisations programmes.
It was for most a first trip up to the Highlands and adverse media
reports about the area was a concern.
So they were thankful for police escort that accompanied them on
their bus trip from Goroka town in Eastern Highlands into the
Simbu province.
It was a cold, chilly morning when they settled down in two
twenty-five seater buses for the two-hour rough and bumpy ride
along the famous Highlands Highway from Goroka to Simbu province.
The trip was a week long staff retreat which would include field
trips to UNICEF project sites in the province.
The team was divided into two groups. The first included Regional
Operations Officer Obai Williams who came from Bangkok and
in-coming PNG representative Hamish Young who were heading for
Simbu province.
Outgoing country representative Dr Isiye Ndombi and Highlands
Regional Chief Dr Arnold Calo'oy led the other team into Eastern
Highlands to visit schools.
For Mr Young this was his introduction to life in PNG and what
UNICEF does in the country before taking over the reins from Dr.
Isiye Ndombi later this month.
For Dr Ndombi, this was his last outing with people he had grown
to trust and count on during his term in PNG.
The support staff were going to see first hand what programme
officers do out in the field in communities and put into
perspective how important teamwork is in their responsibilities
and duties as UNICEF officers.
In Mingende, Simbu province, the UNICEF staff were given a
spectacular welcome by dancing women and girls dressed in
beautiful traditional refinery, a welcome sight after the long
drive.
A feast was prepared for them, an abundance of vegetables,
home-made peanut butter and sweet potato and cassava flour were
presented to them.
Fr Joseph Sackitey, a Ghanaian Catholic priest who now calls Simbu
home after been there for over 10 years, took the group on a tour
of the community, meeting elders and villages chiefs.
The staff noticed that the children were healthy looking and well
nourished and that homes were clean and tidy.
Fr Joseph Sackitey, is trained and supported by UNICEF to
implement programmes such as Home Fit For Children (HFFC) and
Accelerating Girls' Education (AGE).
He also initiated a project called Promoting Healthy Living
through which he introduces new and better farming skills, methods
of cooking, processing and preserving food.
He said the project actually complements HFFC.
"It was very interesting to see families implementing good life
skills and supporting girls' education in Simbu province. They are
very receptive of these concepts and are doing very well. Parents
are also supportive of their daughters going to school," said Emi
Tongia, Senior Secretary and the longest serving staff member of
the UNICEF team.
Mrs Tongia has been with UNICEF for almost 20 years and this was
her first trip to Simbu province, one of eight UNICEF focal
provinces.
"This field trip emphasised teamwork between UNICEF programme and
support staff. We realise that it is very important to be on top
of things and get things done at the office so that programme
officers are able to do their work in the field with partners. It
is wonderful to see for ourselves the results of working together
as a team," said Mrs Tongia from Central province.
Marie Ani, the Senior Human Resource Officer was also impressed
with the impact UNICEF programmes have in the community.
"I have read much about the Owen Stanley Range. Now I can say that
I have been there, done that and of course we can relate to
teamwork in UNICEF from what we saw," she said.
The trip was not all work though, UNICEF staff also had the chance
to model bilum wear from the famous Jaukae Bilum Wear of Goroka.
For support staff the trip made them realise that their support to
programme officers within UNICEF was important and that solid
teamwork would ensure women and children of PNG were reached
through UNICEF projects carried out by programme officers in
collaboration with development partners and Government.
 
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