A social enterprise open to all

GOAL number on of the National Goals and Directive Principles is integral human development. “We declare our first goal to be for every person to be dynamically involved in the process of freeing himself or herself from every form of domination or oppression so that each man or woman will have the opportunity to develop as a whole person in relationship with others.”
Pillar 1 of Vision 2050 is human capital development, gender, youth and people empowerment
The Marape manifesto: Take back PNG, to make it the richest black Christian nation (where no child is left behind).
These sweet sounding pronouncements could well ring hollow.
How serious are we in realising the grand visions? Where is the institution that has it all strategically programmed and taught?
These are critical questions for some serious national soul-searching.
A social enterprise known as Eagle Personal Viability Business Scheme Ltd is taking calculated steps to realising the above visions. It was develped by individuals undergoing training through the Personal Viability Business Scheme of the Port Moresby-based Human Development Institute. They group of trainees started a social enterprise called Eagle PV Business Scheme Ltd.
The group of trainees undergoing Level 3 of the PVBS training decided to pool their K500 seed capital and approached a local fishing company to buy seafood from it to resell. That company was United Seafood.
A member of the group David Karis, also a staff of the National Fisheries Authority, led the Team Eagle to United Seafood and the two parties struck a partnership agreement. Eagle’s 28 members all contributed K500 each (of their Level 3 of PVBS) registration to start buying fish from United Seafood. The group bought bags of fish for K99 and gave them to women re-sellers at the city markets. The women earned over K200 from each bag of fish sold and retained the balance while Eagle Team took its K99 to buy more bags of fish.
The women realised that they were earning money for themselves without spending any money. The demand for fish increased to about 800 bags sold per month. By Sept 2020 a total of 6,000 bags of fish were sold.
Everybody benefits; the retailers, Eagle Team members and United Seafood.
This will go on until the praxis or trainees reach Level 5 of their PVBs training. Then a small fee will be required from each of the resellers, according to Karis.
A similar market arrangement is being developed to ship local produce from Morobe into NCD to be resold at the city markets. Eagle is looking forward to buying taro from communities in Situm, Mumeng, Kamkumumng, Markham and peanuts from Watut in Morobe.
Governor Ginson Saonu is interested. His public relations officer Davis Koringo was at the launching of the Eagle Magazine last Friday. Representatives from the NCD Governor’s office also attended and launched the magazine. Governor Powes Parkop, who was represented by project officer John Makap and SME officer Michelle Albert, wants Eagle Team, NCDC and the Morobe Government to work on a plan to deliver fresh produce from Morobe to be sold in a shed at the Boroko Market, specifically for that.
Eagle also intends to bring in produce from other provinces also into the city with a view to lower the price of fresh food and encourage better nutrition among the city population.
“This will ensure that we don’t spend too much money on imported food such as rice,” Karis said.
The Eagle team launched its first magazine last Friday, Jan 29 at the Sione Kami Memorial Church in Port Moresby. The event was attended by representatives from financial institutions, government departments and provincial governments.
In his devotion before the launch, PVBS Eagle Team member Pastor Daniel Hewali said the law of God was summed up two: Love for God and love for fellowman.
“Team Eagle is fulfilling these two laws. This is the way to take back PNG. This is the life principle for success.We’re celebrating an achievement.
Founder of HDI and the PV Business Scheme Samuel Tam said at the launching: “I have long pondered on why there was so much poverty in a resource-rich country; why people kept begging for money. The main cause of this poverty is dependency. People always expected help from others and government without doing anything themselves to earn the money they need and want.
“The five directive principles, the PNG Vision 2050, Take Back PNG all sound sweet but where is the action? Where is the institution that drives this?” Tam asked.
“I have waited 25 years for this. For the eagles to land, to effect servant leadership, to walk the talk.”
He said what Team Eagle has embarked on can and will help Papua New Guineans break out of the prison of dependency.
“Fly as high as you can,” Tam urged the Team Eagle. “All PNG is invited to join Eagle Team,” he said.
President of Eagle Team Henry Vuia saidthe social enterprise has a good vision aligned to all government plans.
“We are committed to serve with love. Many Papua New Guineans have PV knowledge but are not using it. We want to take back PNG from the prison of dependence. We must start to give to take back PNG.”
Eagle PV Business Scheme Ltd endeavours to add value to people, to allow them to work realise their financial dreams and importantly free themseves from the prison of dependency.