Neglected people find some hope

By JOE GURINA
THE neglect in addressing or meeting human needs from the top hierarchy is one of many factors that contribute to the increasing number of people living in poverty in the country. This lack of empowerment does very little to enhance human development which leads to an upsurge in social problems in communities.
The influx of people into urban areas and cities in search better opportunities is also lending to the problems faced by disillusioned people. The growing number of young people is finding that education is not a precursor to ‘gold at the end of the rainbow.’ Prostitution numbers are on the increase with disenchanted young people turning to criminal and illegal activities to sustain themselves in the big cities.
How to address these growing issues is a plea that governments, past and present, have failed to really take into consideration.
But, all hope is not lost. There are organisations out there that are trying to ‘fix’ the problem, albeit, in their own small way. Humanity Foundation for Moresby South (HFMS) is one such organization. It is a community based group based in Port Moresby and is inaugurated to change and improve lives of simple and disadvantage people.
Their aim is to change the mindsets of the simple ordinary people to help them sustain better livelihoods and to be anchored with lifelong skills.
Established in 2015, the foundation, which as its name suggests, is based in the Moresby South electorate. It is using its skills training program as a vehicle to serve the needs of the disadvantaged groups, families, and individuals living within the electorate.
A not for profit organization, the foundation is philanthropically lending a hand to the unfortunates to help to re-construct and better their livelihoods through their programs.
The skills trainings include, cooking, sewing and financial literacy.
Mothers, young girls and youths are now equipped with the fundamental knowledge on how to generate their own income through the skills they’ve learnt. The program has equipped mothers and girls even the men folk on how to bake cakes, cookies and scones to sell for a living. The sewing class has motivated the women to sew different patterns of clothes that is enabling them to make their mark in the meri blouse market in the city.
HFMS aims to be on par with the current top three Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in the country namely -ADRA, Anglicare and Catholic Education Agency.
Foundation program coordinator Steven Toru says the life – skills training package provides alternatives to mothers, girls and youths to have a better life.
“The skills training program is used as a vehicle to reach out to the simple grassroots people to enhance their livelihood. The training programs gives hope and inspires them to be self-reliant,” Toru said. “Thus encourages them to participate effectively in the SME sector.”
Toru has a wealth of experience relating to community development work which he learned while working with Ginigoada Business Development for the past 15 years. He is now using this expertise to lead from the front. .
From this program, a 60 year old woman in Koki Wanigela has learnt how to manage her money through the financial literacy program.
“We have received enormous feedbacks or results from the programs and many (people) are still asking for the programs to be hosted in their areas,” Toru said.
“The feedback is rewarding and the simple people are now having their lives improved through the programs. It is a milestone achievement for this foundation to have contributed to the wellbeing of the people in the electorate.”
The foundation has anchored its training programs with the Women’s’ Micro Bank (WMB) which has helped mothers open up accounts with the bank. This, according to Toru, is a further enrichment towards women’s participation in the SME sector.
The foundation is working with both the government and private sectors to enhance its programs. Despite not having funding support from donor agencies or the government, it serves the needs of the people from its own funding sources. Funds are sourced through personal contributions and fundraising drives.
The programs are mostly conducted in the Motu Koitabu villages and the urban settlement areas within Moresby South electorate.