Mecthild bent on helping poor children

By ROSELYN ELLISON
MECTHILD Rave started a phonics and early childhood school in the remotest part of East New Britain to help unfortunate children receive basic education.
Mecthild, 38, whose parents are from Bali in West New Britain and Nissan Island in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville has a background in political science and law.
She was born and raised in East New Britain during the Bougainville Crisis in the late 1980s. She was nine when she lost her mother Madelyne Tilboro Rave in 1994. That same year, she witnessed the eruption of the twin volcanos.
“(They) turned my early childhood days into nightmares. My upbringing, going through these situations and events, had a great effect on me.”
She was brought up in a family where discipline was strict. Her father Mark Rave one of those behind the development of Kokopo City as a building inspector.
She regards him as her hero and mentor.
Before completing her political science degree at the University of PNG, she wanted to further her studies at the Toronto University in USA, aiming for a Masters in Political Science degree and to practise law later.
But she changed her mind and stayed back in PNG.
She noticed how the low literacy rate contributed to the high unemployment rate, resulting in poverty, early pregnancy among primary, secondary and college students. There were also many cases of violence in homes and families resulting in divorce and family break-up. And the victims were the children.
“Children coming from such broken homes ended up in criminal activities for survival. They get locked up in prison. Females end up in prostitution resulting in unwanted pregnancies.”
Mecthild decided that she should do something for the children.
“A child must be moulded from the earliest stages of growth. Moulding, teaching and bringing up a child is not an easy task. It comes with responsibility, commitment and discipline.
“With that strong belief system, I established this programme without any Government and Non-Government funding support.”
The programme involves children three years and above. They are taught to read and write, know their Bible, and to worship God in spirit and in truth.
Strong discipline, continuous counselling are the priority.
English is the only language spoken by students and teachers.
Children accepted into the programme are those identified as going through forms of abuses, or whose parents have either died or show no interest in their upbringing.
Those involved in identifying these children include the Family and Sexual Violence Unit, Welfare Offices and Safe Home.
Apart from being taught English and Maths, the children take up religious studies, agriculture and farming, crafts and designs, carpentry, cooking and sewing.
Students are taught how to sew pillow cases, trousers, table clothes, tea towels.
They are taught healthy living – how to keep their bodies clean and tidy, how to bath themselves, how to take proper care of their clothes and properties, keeping home, toilet, kitchen and clean rooms.
Computing classes are compulsory for all students on how to use and know the computer.
Mecthild knows many children will benefit from the programme and help place them in a good stead as they begin their journey in life.
Indeed a commendable and remarkable personal commitment by Mecthild.