More widows join group

 By TONY PALME
THE Papua New Guinea Widows Association says its awareness programmes have attracted interests from widows in the New Guinea Islands and Mamose region.
More than 20 widows in East New Britain (ENB)  registered to become members through a nine-day awareness programme, association administrator Jameson Mange said.
Mange told The National that 25 widows from the four districts in ENB registered and many were intending to do so.
“We need 100 from every province in the country in order to have 2000 widows before we launch our website and investment programmes,” Mange said.
After East New Britain, Mange travelled to New Ireland to talk with widows in Kavieng and Namatanai districts.
Mange said New Ireland was well organised as it had a disability act in place set up by the provincial government under the leadership of Governor Sir Julius chan.
“We can work with the provincial government and bring in all widows from the province into the association.
“After that we will convey message to the office of community development to help with funds.”
Mange hopes to extend the awareness to Morobe next week.
“I will then proceed to Markham district the following Monday and conclude in Lae during the week,” Mange said.
He said widows in Madang who had registered would be trained from July 19 to 22 to become financial members.
Mange said by August, the association plans to register widows from East and West Sepik.
He said the association  would move into the Highlands provinces by September.