Central women open new hall

WOMEN in Paramana village on the Aroma coast of Abau district, Central, had every reason to celebrate when a new hall was opened for them last Wednesday.
The village was packed to capacity with children, elderly women and men turning up in numbers in their traditional attire to celebrate the opening of the new building that will be used for fellowship.
The community, made up of United church followers, was delighted to have government-funded project for the first time after being neglected by previous elected leaders.
The K80,000 project was funded by Public Service Minister and Abau MP Sir Puka Temu under his district services improvement programme.
Speaking during the launching, Abau Council of Women president and joint district planning and budget priority committee women’s representative Gennie Kapigeno challenged the women to take ownership of the project. She said there were many impact projects that would be implemented in the district.
She urged them to manage such vital government projects. 
Kapigeno said it was very difficult to receive government projects and the hall was a timely boost and a stepping stone for them to venture into other projects.
She said the hall would be used for providing training, workshops, fellowships and other related activities for women.
“We want to promote women’s development at the ward, LLG, district and provincial levels to tap into mini spin-off businesses in health, education, agriculture, tourism, mining and in other areas to sustain themselves to improve living standards.
“After all we want to be physically, spiritually and economically fit to participate meaningfully to develop our welfare from the village to provincial level,” she said.
The project was opened by Lady Veronica Temu on behalf of Sir Puka who did not attend because of a work commitment.
Lady Veronica congratulated the Paramana-Ebenezer women for successfully implementing their project and spending the money wisely.
She said Paramana village was the first in the district to have a fellowship hall for women.