Envoy commends Life PNG Care

“He told me: ‘If I am hungry, that is a problem for me today. If my son does not get an education that is a problem for tomorrow.’ That sense of investing in children to provide for a better future has stuck with me’.”

By JACK AMI
ONE of the first official engagements by the new British High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Keith Scott was the Life PNG Care fundraising dinner at the Dynasty Restaurant in the Vision City Mega Mall recently.
In his keynote address Scott said he was impressed with the enormous positive outcome in the work done by Life PNG Care to address humanitarian issues.
As a new comer to the PNG Scott was invited by LPNGC Director Collin Pake after he was in the country for only three weeks.
Here is part of Scott’s speech at the charity’s major annual fundraising event.
“Let me begin by saying how honoured I am to have been invited to speak at Life PNG Care’s fourth annual dinner fundraiser.
“I have been in PNG for just three weeks, so thank you for providing this particular newcomer with his first official public outing.
“Let me also pay tribute to the work of director Pake and his team at Life PNG Care for the range of work you do to make a positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people in Papua New Guinea.
“Not only do you operate a family care home to provide food, shelter and, importantly, a sense of belonging for orphans in Port Moresby – I believe you feed 150 children daily – but you also – with the support of partners – run outreach programmes providing food and clothing and healthcare advice.
“I was particularly struck by your Mobile Classroom project – not just because of the importance of education but because of its innovation. In short, if children cannot go to school, you bring the school to the children.
“But you do not have to take my word for this. In August this year, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded a certificate honouring Colin as Papua New Guinea’s second Commonwealth Point of Light recipient in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the community.
“I know my deputy, who presented the award, considered it a great honour to visit you that day. I may be a high commissioner but you and your team are ambassadors for Papua New Guinea throughout the Commonwealth.
“As a father of two small pikininis myself – I am the first British high commissioner for over 12 years to come here with family – I can relate strongly to the theme of tonight’s event: “Counting One Child Now by Preserving the Future Generation”.
“During a previous part of my career living in Zimbabwe, in southern Africa, my wife and I visited a very poor rural area. One man we met was so hungry he was chewing roots normally eaten by donkeys. He spent what little money he had sending his son to school.
“He told me: ‘If I am hungry, that is a problem for me today. If my son does not get an education that is a problem for tomorrow.’ That sense of investing in children to provide for a better future has stuck with me.
“And it underlines why the work of Life PNG Care – and the Mobile Education Project, for which we are raising funds tonight, is so essential. To paraphrase Life PNG Care’s mission statement, our priority should be the future of our children.
“This is certainly what the United Kingdom believes, and we have chosen to focus on girls’ education. We recognise that, in a number of countries, often developing economies or conflict zones, girls miss out on education. Across the world, over 130 million girls between the ages of six to 17 years are not in school – almost half that number are in the Commonwealth.”
Scott said in conflict zones, girls were over twice as likely to be out of school.
“We believe that increasing the participation rates of girls and young women in education will help bring security, stability and prosperity around the world.
“In response, the United Kingdom has committed £212 million (about K1billion) in development aid to assist one million vulnerable girls across the Commonwealth.
“Our aim is to deliver 12 years of quality education for all girls by 2030. I am delighted to say that this is a goal shared by Papua New Guinea.
“Contrary to what many might think, the United Kingdom does provide development assistance to Papua New Guinea, but most of our funding is channelled through the European Union – about 15 per cent of EU funding comes from the UK – and the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, to which we are significant contributors.
“So we have supported the EU’s Human Resources Development Programme, worth almost 17 million euros (about K65 million), which has helped develop the management skills of Papua New Guinean teachers and improve access to training.
“The programme has also enabled the construction of dormitories and six classrooms in three teacher training colleges. Already 600 students have benefited from the skills upgrade through on the job training and another 600 will benefit from it shortly.
“We also recognise the importance of a stable home life as fundamental to being able to get the most from the education – this is also a cornerstone of the work of Life PNG Care.
“We are working with an organisation in the UK to deliver workshops for Papua New Guinean teachers, and teachers in the Solomon Islands and Nauru, to introduce the impact of domestic violence into the education curriculum.
“I hope Life PNG Care teachers might be able to benefit from this programme.
“Allow me also to say a few words about the United Kingdom’s Chevening Scholarship Programme. This programme offers post-graduate university scholarships for the best and brightest around the world to attend the UK’s world class higher education system.
“It offers a unique opportunity for future leaders and influencers from all over the world to develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience UK culture and most importantly, return to apply that learning at home.
“I am delighted that over 100 scholars from Papua New Guinea have benefitted from this programme over the years; four more students have just departed for the UK.
Again, this is about investing in Papua New Guinea’s future through your young talent.
Life PNG Care plays a crucial role in helping to build stronger and safer communities through ensuring the children are properly nourished, educated and healthy. I can think of no better cause to support.”