THE people of Ambunti in East Sepik province can now access telecommunication services from Ambunti government station.
This was now possible with the opening of the Apo Resource Centre, an initiative of HELP Resources, funded by Oxfam Australia.
The centre was jointly opened by HELP director Chris Maingu and Oxfam country representative Eileen Kolma last Wednesday and witnessed by the community and its leaders amid much celebration led by the Apo Youth, an offshoot of the Resource Centre.
The centre houses a library and provides photocopying, telephone, email and internet and desktop publishing services through its three computers.
It would also serve as the base for HELP’s awareness programmes on sustainable livelihoods, gender and human rights training, men and boys behaviour change training and HIV and AIDS.
Mr Maingu told the community: “You don’t have to travel long distance and spend a lot of money now to get your photocopies or call your families or find information.
“It’s now at your doorstep.”
Mrs Kolma added: “Information and communication is an essential service that must be made available to rural areas. You are fortunate to have achieved this milestone, while others are still waiting for it.”
She said Oxfam was pleased to support this initiative and urged the people to look after it.