Girls’ group gives street kids a Christmas to remember

More than 20 street kids had lunch with volunteers from Girls’ Friendly Society at Jack Pidik Park in Port Moresby on Tuesday.
GFS feeding ministry coordinator Collins Sanata said the team had identified more than
150 children on the streets through a survey and they had provided food for them a couple of times.
Sanata said not all the children turned up for the previous two meals programmes which were held at the park and outside the National Library.
He said the reason could be that some of the children had a home and family from the nearby settlements.
“This is the final feeding programme this year for those who regularly come and since it is Christmas we decided to make it special,” Sanata said.
“The youth volunteers from ATS and St Martin Anglican church will have a short fellowship with the kids before having the food.
“It is our aim to make them feel inclusive because the kids out in the streets don’t enjoy or celebrate Christmas as everyone.
“Through the food we can share the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ and the meaning of Christmas for a better girls’ friendly society.
“GFS is a non-government organisation that runs church partnership programmes that focus on girls and we initiated the feeding programme purposely to help the orphans and homeless children.”
According to the GFS website, it is a charitable organisation that empowers girls and young women to develop their full potential through programmes and opportunities.
Almost half of the volunteers were girls on school holidays who believed that what they were doing with the ministry was noble.
GFC Port Moresby coordinator Girika Raga said the organisation was established in Papua New Guinea from the branch in Australia which was based in parishes and dioceses.
“We are allowing the young people to take the lead and we provide support and guidance” Raga said.
She said the programme was led by the Anglican Church but it was interdenominational and would like to see other interested churches to join.
Another food station was set up by the GFS feeding ministry volunteers at Konedobu for street children in that area.