Weekender page

Kup Women of Peace sow seeds of hope

By EILEEN TUGUM KOLMA and RACHEL HINTON
Never did the youth or elders of Kup in Chimbu's Kerowagi's district, dream that they would one day see any development or be the recipients of livelihood projects on the scale that they saw on May 1 this year.
Steeped in constant tribal fighting they seemed like a forsaken lot. Thus, when the Kup Women for Peace embarked on a conflict reduction and peace building programme in 1999 there was widespread criticism and skepticism.
Yet, on 1 May at Kup Catholic Mission Station, to the wide-eyed delight of the community and much cheering, one by one, 52 youth groups received materials that included goats, rabbits, chicken, pigs, cement bags, and pipes for fish ponds.
No cash was distributed. Coffins constructed and clothes sewn by local youth groups were also set out for public display.
"We didn't think such a thing could happen here (in Kup),"said Boi Yanny, President of the Offcut Youth Group which received chicken and chicken feed.
"This is a dream come true for us and we are very grateful."
Thus, it was with great joy and celebration that leaders of the groups came forward with traditional Chimbu cries of appreciation by their women to receive their project materials.
Their benefactors were simple, ordinary women with hearts of gold and extra-ordinary courage and strength who had fought to restore peace in their community for the last six years - the Kup Women for Peace (KWP), with support from Oxfam International (PNG).
For the community this initiative brought home several realizations: that development is possible with peace; that development is possible for them by themselves. And with this programme has been planted seeds of hope for a better future.
One youth leader in appreciation told the KWP members "You are our government. You have shown us that we can do it ourselves."
But Chairperson Angela Apa while appreciating the comment was quick to point out:
"We are not your government. You are your own government. Your development is in your own hands."
For a place that may have been once considered backward and forgotten due to their past history of tribal conflicts, these people are learning some lessons the hard way and are getting it right.
The distribution of materials marked the launch KWPs Sustainable Livelihoods Programme. The programme is one of KWP's four objectives and is a major component of their peace building activities. Having worked for the last six years to successfully stop the outbreak of tribal fights in the Kup LLG and create a more peaceful environment, the organisation worked towards taking practical measures to ensure long lasting peace.
The aim of the Livelihood Programme is to promote sustainability and improve the quality of life of Kup communities.
The materials distributed at the launch are considered "seed" resources from which surplus are meant to be distributed equally to members of the group and community at large.
All registered youth groups are targeted as part of the KWP Livelihood Programme.
Youth considered 'high risk 'were also specifically targeted. These youth had been part of the 2003 gun surrender and had since had no formal legal support from probation officers to discuss their case and had the potential for violence .
KWP's intention for targeting youth is to "settle youth down", and through a holistic community approach, reduce some of the causes and motivations for violence.
This includes providing support to youth to commit themselves to livelihood strategies that will sustain and develop their community.
Associated with the launching of the Livelihoods Programme was the promotion of a Violence Free Election 2007.
"This is because male youth often take the lead during political campaigns to instigate and carry out violence on behalf of a political candidate. We believe that if young people are actively working on specific community projects during the campaign and election period, they will be less motivated to leave the village and spend time supporting intending candidates," said Angela.
Intending candidates were invited to be made aware of the peace-building and community development work.
KWP members stressed during their speeches that and young people be left alone to focus on their project work and the election not be marred by violence.
Said Mary Kini, a founding member of KWP: "We have put in all the hard work over the last six years, to create peace and reduce violence in our communities, and we don't want to see that destroyed in just one day".
Candidates were asked to commit themselves to a peaceful elections, and should they lose, not endorse and encourage a violent response. Six of the nine candidates invited attended and pledged to support violence and gun violence free elections and to leave the youth alone.
With the range of people per group ranging from 20 to 200, the materials distributed directly benefit around 3000-4000 people.
This is the first stage of the KWP Livelihood Programme. As a peace-building initiative, it will be closely monitored with assistance from Oxfam for its impact and potential for sustainability.
Over the long term, it is hoped the "seed" resources will multiply and be distributed among the members and community so that every household may benefit.
The overall objective iss to see communities become self sustainable and self reliant, not dependant on government promises of assistance. Integral to the programme is the role it will play in the promotion of peace in the Kup LLG and support the peace building work of KWP.
In the past intending candidates, members and government officials created expectations in communities for assistance with livelihood activities. These expectations were never met. Due to these past experiences some groups were skeptical about the support that KWP proposed to give and did not register as a result. Recognising the material and practical support that was given, these groups regret their doubt and are now approaching KWP for assistance.
As one KWP member suggests: "People now have a lot of trust in the women. Their opinions are changing now and they really support the work of the women. This was the first of its kind, ever in Kup, which they saw for themselves, and everywhere you go people talk about it".