Hope for a fresh start in life ministry

Weekender

AMINA (not her real name) left behind her three children in the care of family members hoping to make enough money to better provide for them.
She came to live with her security guard husband in a Port Moresby settlement. From the beginning she realised she had to work herself to raise enough money to provide for her children and take care of herself. She couldn’t simply wait on her husband to take home his fortnightly wage to meet all those needs.
Amina had an enterprising spirit so she started selling items at informal markets. That kept her busy most of the day and she arrived home in the afternoons and after a while, the husband grew jealous or suspicious that she could be up to something behind his back.
Suspicion and questioning led to violence and grevious assault. This became a regular thing for her. She was slashed across a forearm, her left ear was severed, and there are other scars on her body which remind of her hellish marriage.
After more beatings she went to police a number of times and obtained interim preventive orders against her husband. Nothing seemed to work for her and she finally decided it was time to leave.
She went to the House of Hope run by the Salvation Army. Here she was met by Major Ridia Nenewa and her team who are carrying for women like Amina who are victims of gender-based violence (GBV) and human trafficking.
Major Nenewa’s work as an officer of the Salvation Army involved carrying for such women (and children) and stabilising their conditions following the trauma from GBV, providing counselling and where necessary, seeking medical and legal assistance for them.
However, until she she learnt something about changing mindsets and skills for financial independence at the Human Development Institute she could not assist the women by giving them a sense of hope to fending for themselves and improve their lives.
Her training under the Personal Viability Business Scheme (PVBS) had enabled her to see differently and after that she started a home school at the House of Hope where she trains women.
And Amina is very appreciative of the home schooling.
“When I was selling stuff, I made my own money rather than waiting upon my working husband to give me money but my problem was my inability to properly budget that money and make savings or invest in something else.
“The PV home school has opened my mind and I can now not only make money but use it better to make more money,” Amina beamed with renewed hope.
She and other victims of GBV who have been trained under the PVBS have opened a savings accounts with the Women’s Micro Bank. She will save her money there and retain only what is necessary for her basic needs, she said.
The few women at the House of Hope have undergone the home schooling at and will enroll into the PVBS Level 1 training in the new year.
With the assistance of the Women’s Micro Bank, the women now save their earnings so that their husbands would not be jealous of them carrying around large sums of money like in the past.
“Sometimes husbands get jealous of their wives and think that if they have some financial independence, they could be hard to control so they try to remove their source of income.”
Change Foundation
These women are now under the care of Change Foundation, a recently established non-governmental organisation providing life-changing training for victims and perpetratorsGBV.
Formed mid this year, the foundation was launched last Friday at the Human Development Institute at 6-Mile.
The occasion was made more memorable by the donation of a brand new bus by Boroko Motors to the foundation for its operations.
Boroko Motors representative Boe Daira presented the keys of the vehicle to Major Ridia Nenewa in the presence of other supporters of the foundation.
The 15-seater Nissan van is valued at just under K90,000.
Change Foundation works with the House of Hope to assist victims of GBV but also extend its services to others in similar situations who are not only in need but also prepared to help themselves.
Rather than focusing only on victims, the foundation will also assist perpetrators of GBV as they too need assistance to rehabilitate and have a change of mindset to better their lives, Samuel Tam said.
Through its PVBS education, HDI will train those identified and genuinely in need of assistance so they can restart their lives and attain financial freedom
Change Foundation was established following the death of a young mother this year and the public outcry after it.
A group of like-minded people gathered at the office of HDI and decided to do something practical to assist women, children and even men affected by GBV.
The foundation is made up of people from all walks of life who have decided to act to help eliminate the cause of GBV and to rehabilitate victims and perpetrators. Founding members include doctors, nurses, trauma counsellors, lawyers, accountants, entrepreneurs and ordinary Papua New Guineans in the public and private sectors. It is supported by partners including Women’s Micro Bank, Human Development Institute, Rapid Response, Boroko Motors, Keko Cleaning and Beautification Services, Eagle PV Business Scheme, 4-Mile Medical Centre and others.
“HDI on its part has decided to embark on a programme of loving service to rehabilitate GBV victims and perpetrators,” Tam said.
The vehicle donation was part of the WR Carpenters Group’s assistance through its Boroko Motors division.
Company representative Boe Daira, speaking on behalf of the company chairman and staff said, the group was happy to assist women suffering from GBV.
RR security company also made a donation to Change Foundation on the day. Company director Alexis Tam gave a K10,000 cheque to his father Samuel Tam for Change Foundation.
The young Tam urged those gathered at the launching to give of themselves in this time of year.
“We must give faith and hope and love,” he said.
Change Foundation will be extending its “loving service to the needy” in other parts of the country in the new year.
PVBS coaches on the ground in provinces will provide training for nominated victims and perpetrators of GBV to change their lives.
HDI founder Sam Tam said poverty often contributed to GBV in urban centres, especially in single-income homes.