New foundation launched

A NEW foundation was launched to focus on bringing humanitarian support in health, education and infrastructure development to rural areas in Papua New Guinea.
The Peter Nathan Loko Foundation Inc PNG was launched over the weekend in honour of dedicated Rotarian Peter Loko, who passed away in 2017.
Foundation president and sister of late Peter, Lucy Loko, during the launching, said work had already started in Gulf with chairs and tables provided in Lese Walai village as well as the construction of eight classrooms.
Lucy said the foundation looked to continue her brother’s vision, who was passionate about improving the social and economic status of the underprivileged.
“As the highest honour to this great man, I am proud to say on behalf of the volunteers of the Peter Nathan Loko Foundation, we are proud to stand for dignity and integrity,” she said.
“We have a ‘big heart’ and we have optimism – all the qualities displayed by the man who this foundation is named after.”
The foundation’s objective is to provide basic supplies of vaccines, medicines and basic medical equipment, particularly for women’s health.
It also aims to establish an effective programme to prevent communicable diseases.
The foundation will also provide classrooms, sanitation equipment, school stationery and other equipment such as solar systems for rural areas starting in Gulf.
Lucy said work had begun in Lese Walai, Gulf, which was the first village they targeted and planned to eventually venture from there to other areas. “To have a big vision, or a big dream, you need to take small steps to get there,” she said.
Lucy said no one could deny that good literacy rates was behind the overall performance of the nation.
“If more and more of our citizens are literate, the country can cope with the fast changing world,” she said.
“Having a healthy, educated and stable community will allow individuals to grow and develop mentally and physically, which results in a prosperous community.”