By HILDA WAYNE
There is a group of people sitting in a circle concentrating on a card game. We ask directions, someone points us in the direction along a dirt track towards an old kitchen hut a few steps away.
We got close to the kitchen and the silence was suddenly broken with playful and joyous laughs of children. Then I saw in front of the old kitchen, about 50 children some as young as one year old caught up in a game of hide-and-seek.
Looking on fondly were a few young people and an elderly lady with smiles on their faces watching the children indulge in their fun and games.
After their games, they are asked to come around in a circle and share with everyone why they like coming to 'Kids Kona' a little home at Brick House, Asaruifa just outside Goroka town.
Their giggling quietens down as twelve year old * John who seems to be the oldest child in the group volunteers to go first.
He puts on a brave face as he tells his story.
"My mum died and dad is in prison. My relatives do not look after me well. They say hurtful things to me and make me work too much. I think of my parents and I cry when no one is watching. I wish my parents were here," his handsome face blushes with emotion as he pauses and continues.
"I like to come to Kids Kona because I want to forget everything and feel free to play with other kids," says the brave young lad.
* Ten year old Tony is wearing an adult's shirt that did not fit, and rolls up the sleeve because it is too long.
A firm handshake with him and I notice how hard his little hands are, the result of hard work. I am immediately taken aback as he speaks.
"Mama mekim sanguma long papa and papa dai olsem na ol lain bilong papa laik kilim mama na em i ranawe go long ples bilong em. Liklik sista na brata mipela yet stap na lukautim mipela yet. Mipela save laik tru long kam long Kids Kona long pilai wantaim ol narapela pikinini. (Dad died as a result of mum's sorcery and dad's people wanted to kill mum so she ran away to her own village. My little sister and brothers we take care of ourselves. We like coming to Kid Kona every Saturday because we can play with other kids)," said Tony.
He goes there every Saturday with five other siblings. He is the second of six children in his family with all the children under-aged and without parents to take care of them.
Little *Agnes is four years old but I am told she was only three when she started looking after her baby sister who is about a year old.
Their mum left their dad who was now involved in street selling to make ends meet for himself and his young daughters. Agnes was forced to take care of her baby sister and takes her to Kids Kona to play on Saturdays.
I tell myself I should stop as I realize there were tragic stories hiding behind those cute smiling faces and I didn't need to hear them all.
I didn't want to spoil the only day in the week when they can just be kids. These children are forced to take on roles as parents or adults. They are being victims of scorn and neglect by their communities and are deserted at absolutely no fault of theirs.
Every Saturday, Kids Kona is now a safe haven for over 100 children deprived of love and care, deserted by their parents and left at the mercy of their relatives.
But the community is beginning to change.
This is a love story that started fifteen years ago for Mama Anna. She opened her home and heart to these little children and has mobilized more young people in the community to help.
I realize the bond is close as Mama Anna explains that some of the young people watching were themselves frequent visitors to her home as they were growing up.
Now they have banded together to work with Mama Anna in helping the children in their community to stop any form of abuse or violence against these children.
"It is not fair that these children are not in school and taking on roles of parents. They must be protected and everyone needs to work together for them," said Kuma Dikin, who is team leader of the youth group which works with Mama Anna to help the children.
With support from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Ms. Dikin was able to participate in a psycho social life skills Training-of-Trainers program in Port Moresby recently. Two other young people also participated in the training conducted in the province.
She says they are now able to talk to community members about children's rights and the need to protect them. Some of the programs that the youths have carried out with the children include immunization, birth registration, nutrition practices sessions and protection of children from violence and abuse.
These programmes have been carried out in collaboration with the health and community welfare divisions in the province.
The stories from children from Kids Kona are shared by many other children everywhere in Papua New Guinea and they have little or no voice at all until someone speaks to them in genuine interest.
"The success of whether PNG is moving towards a prosperous future can only be determined by how well this country takes care of its children," a great leader once said.
It is time to make a change one person and one child at a time and Kids Kona has shown us that each of us can make a difference in the lives of the children of PNG.
It is their right to be protected from all forms of abuse and violence.

* Names of children have been with held to protect their identity.




 

 

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