We need more people like Scholla

 PAPUA New Guinea has lost a true champion of women’s rights and gender equality.

National Council of Women president Scholla Warai Kakas succumbed to heart failure last Friday after sacrificing a significant part of her life to helping her fellow women. 

Scholla had no husband, no children and no property. 

She sacrificed her time and energy on public service but never asked for any rewards.

This unique woman from Kaiap, in Enga, was the first child in a family of five who wanted to become a Catholic nun. 

But it was not to be and she started a career as a radio broadcaster with the National Broadcasting Corporation.

Scholla left the NBC after nine years and took a job with the community affairs division of Porgera Joint Venture, the developer of the giant Porgera gold mine in Enga. That lasted a further seven years after which she decided to rekindle her relationship with the Catholic Church.

As president of the Catholic Association in the Highlands, Scholla was able to reach out and wield her influence among the many church communities and other sectors throughout the populous region. 

Her hard work and popularity among the womenfolk in the Highlands gained momentum and became the stepping stone for her entry into a bigger and more challenging arena.

Scholla was elected as a member of the National Council of Women representing the Highlands Region and later became president.

As the leading advocate of women’s rights and gender equality in this country, she was able to do what no NCW president had done before – unite the various women’s factions that had been feuding for years.

Scholla made great strides during her reign but the greatest testimony of her presidency was the passing of the National Council of Women’s Act by Parliament, which was the result of an eight-year campaign.

A tearful NCD Women’s Council president Maria Andrew described Scholla as a leader with a heart for the people, especially women and children. 

“She was like my husband because she was never married nor had children; she was married to the women’s work; she was married to the half of the population of PNG that are made up of women. During her leadership, she was different from previous presidents – she came in with a vision and the first thing she looked at was the National Council of Women’s Act. I was really proud and even today I am really proud that she had done something; she had left something behind that women of Papua New Guinea will inherit long after we are gone.”

NCD Governor Powes Parkop, who was among mourners at the haus krai (house of mourning) in Gerehu on Saturday, praised Scholla for raising the status of women in PNG and her efforts in bridging the gap in gender inequality. 

“She deserved the respect that’s being given to her because we have lost a true champion and she was a person who has sacrificed her entire life for the cause of our people, not just women. During Scholla’s time as president we have achieved a lot; we tried to put the women’s bill to Parliament and we nearly got it and jumped over that first hurdle but there are still more to come to have women’s seat in Parliament. Men and women must be equal citizens in this country, equal partners, equal leaders and equal servants of our people to take our country to the next level. We must bridge the gap and there must be more women like Scholla rising up out of the community.”

Scholla Kakas was a giant in women’s affairs and was a friend to all and enemy to none. She lived a simple but challenging life and brought much joy and pride to her womenfolk throughout the country. 

Scholla was highly respected by the political leadership, the churches, non-government organisations and donor agencies. She was held in high esteem for her diplomacy and ability to resolve disputes.

Scholla was a gentle giant whose kindness and willingness to sacrifice the prime time of her life to the service of others, especially women, will long be remembered.

We salute Scholla Warai Kakas and may she rest in eternal peace.