Mothers celebrate by exchanging gifts

By DANIEL KUMBON JR
DWU journalism student
MORE than 150 women from Madang town travelled to a village in Bogia to celebrate Mother’s Day over the weekend.
The day was filled with laughter, fun, and food, the exchange of gifts and words of encouragement.
Madang Urban Mothers leader Margaret Yopoi said the idea was to exchange gifts and celebrate the day with mothers in villages like Niapark in the Awar local level government area.
Yopoi said the initiative was started in 2009 and the group had been hosting celebrations in urban settings but this year they wanted a change of scenery.
She added that the initiative was aimed at ensuring all women appreciated the important roles they played in the communities.
“I bought basics like towels, cooking utensils, food and other items needed by mothers to commemorate Mother’s Day,” she said.
“In every settlement and suburb I go, I bring the message that we (mothers) do have a role to play from household matters to national matters because we can manage and make decisions.
“We do not need a degree to manage but we are traditional managers.”
Yopoi also urged women to respect and support each other.
“We do not have to gossip, we do not need to talk behind each other’s backs, we must be united and show support to each other.
“Even if a woman raises her hand to run for the election then we must support her because she can participate in the decision making of the nation,” Yopoi said.