Dame Josephine plans to help women through foundation

By CHARLES MOI
FORMER politician and governor Dame Josephine Abaijah says she plans to have at least four women elected into Parliament in General Election 2027 (GE27).
Speaking during the launching of the Dame Josephine Abaijah Foundation at Apec House in Port Moresby on Saturday, she said: “One of the things that this foundation will do is make sure that in the next parliament we will have more women in parliament.
“We going to see if we can put up a university that caters for the women.”
The 82-year-old is a former Milne Bay governor (1997-2002) and Central premier (1977-1982).
“I want to help people like our Governor for Central (Rufina Peter). You (Rufina) have a big role to play to make Central province grow. Because Central province is where Papua was born.”
In an earlier report by The National last month, Dame Josephine said the foundation would be working with various women’s organisations including churches.
“There are other things that the foundation can do, assisting young children, people living with disabilities and especially what we can do for women.
“It may not be just Papuan women but we can venture into assisting others who are having difficulties,” she said.
She said the foundation would also help women in sports now that they were going into rugby league and other male-dominated codes.
“It’s not different to the other foundations, but we will make sure that the main objective is to assist women.
“There are lot of things we can do I want women to support each other.
“I don’t want them fighting or getting envious of each other.”
Central Governor Rufina Peter, who was the guest speaker at the event, said her personal following with Dame Josephine happened in 1977 when she was in primary school.
“In that election (in 1977) and the later elections that she (Dame Josephine) was involved in, it was where I came to see and admire Dame Josephine Abaijah,” Peter said.
“I just saw at the campaigns, not only was she confident but her messaging, the merchandise that went with it, Papua Besena, and the passion her team had. Everything that her team did I studied and I was very impressed.
“And that left an impression on my mind, not to become a political leader but just that a woman was outstanding in what she believed in and how she conducted herself in campaigns,” Peter said.
Rufina added that the country was facing a breakdown in value systems.
“So what are we doing about it in communities, in families as a church, what is our messaging and how are we contributing?”
“Because we do need to reset our values, and identity as Papuans,” she said.