Show bridges gap between rich, poor

Banz town in Jiwaka will come alive on the first weekend of August when the the famous Jiwaka culture will be shown through singsing, bilas and music.
The show would present the very rich assets of Jiwaka’s people and cultures.
A committee of 10 members representing Jimi, North Waghi, Nondugl, Banz, Kimil, Anglimp, Minj and Kambia is set and in place.
“We have a vibrant committee representing the whole of Jiwaka community and they are of influence in their communities and are ready to offer their services to guide this committee to host a successful show this year,” show committee chairman Aaron Gunbi said.
“The members of the committee come from different walks of life including business professionals, academics, community leaders, church representatives, and government officials – both men and women.”
The host of the event, Upper Kon Association will use the proceeds to build classrooms in several elementary and primary schools in the Upper Kon area of the remote Jimi Valley of Jiwaka to fulfill its mission, goals and objectives to address development agenda in this very disadvantaged area that has a big population of marginalised people, according to Gunbi.
“Our first event in 2016 attracted a crowd of almost 5,000 including 30 tourists from Australia and Europe but this year the attendance will be double given the awareness we have made over the two years,” Gunbi said.
Those who had come for the show had helped Upper Kon Association to raise enough funds to build three double classrooms in the remote Jimi and the extension of grand stand at Banz rugby football field. The projects in Jimi are progressing well now are expected to be completed before the end of this year.
“Though we have projects running for the community, there are still more classrooms to be built and we cannot wait for someone else to come and build for us; we take the initiative to organise ourselves to raise funds to build them as we have great potential in our people and the cultural norms that encourage friendship, harmony, tranquility, hard work, perseverance, sharing and caring for others, sympathetic towards the marginalised and the disadvantaged, and community living and this is Jiwaka,” Gunbi said.
Invitations have been broadcast and many singsing groups, band groups and corporate groups are exited and have expressed their interests to participate. The participants would come from within Jiwaka as well as from neighbouring Chimbu, Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Enga, and Madang.
Five singsing groups including a group from the staff and students of the PNG University of Goroka have already confirmed their registration.
The highlight of this show would be the Jimi bridge building with bush vines and cane. According to Gunbi, the bridge symbolised connections, networking, and partnership to achieve the development agenda with focus on alleviating poverty, addressing gender issues and empowerment of women, and education for younger generations agents of change for the Jiwaka community.
“One area that would bring Jiwaka to prosperity is through financial literacy awareness. Thus, we have invited many banks to do their promotions during the show,” Gunbi said.
“This would definitely bring long term prosperity – a bridge between the rich and the poor to narrow the gap in the poverty margin,” the show president said.

• For further information regarding the show, registration, bookings please contact the public relations officer on phone +675 70350819 or email: [email protected]