Embassy donate gifts

 EMPLOYEES of the American Embassy served lunch and donated gifts at Haus Ruth last Friday.

Charge d’affairs Melanie Higgins led embassy staff members to distribute three bales of second-hand clothing, toiletries and lunch to the residents.  

The visit was part of the embassy’s commemoration of the global campaign of 16 days of activism against gender violence.

The Haus Ruth received donations of fabric bags and toiletries, pizzas and gift bags from companies and organisations. 

“This is the second time staff from the US Embassy came and worked with us,” Haus Ruth manager Monica Richards said.

Higgins said “one of the US Embassy’s priority goals was to empower women to play an important role in society so that they were less frequently the victims of domestic violence and rape”.

One in three women around the world will experience gender-based violence in their lifetime.

The United States is working to help prevent and respond to gender-based violence in PNG.  

Through the ambassador’s small grants programme, the embassy is supporting five local organisations reduce HIV vulnerability associated with gender-based and sexual violence against women and girls.  

Haus Ruth is run by City Mission in Port Moresby. It offers a safe place and counselling for women and children who have been the victims of domestic violence.  

Haus Ruth welcomes volunteers and financial donations. To volunteer with City Mission visit their website.