Eastern Highlands

I’m in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. What a climate change. I’m freezing! I didn’t bring enough warm clothes to PNG as I had packed for the climate in Lae. Luckily there are a quite a few second-hand stores around, you can find quite a few gems in a store like that, you’d be surprised what people in Australia and NZ throw away…

I’m here in Goroka for our organisations Adult Literacy CSO Forum. Only 65% of the adult population in PNG are literate and of female adults, only 58% are literate. Our organisation has partnered with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Lae, Goroka, Port Moresby and Buka (Bougainville) where we have provincial offices. In the past we directly trained and supervised volunteer teachers to conduct Adult Literacy classes but found that the program wasn’t as sustainable as hoped. Learning from the past we decide

d to take a new approach in partnering with CSOs to strengthen their capacity to provide support for Adult Literacy (as well as other things like Conflict Resolution, Leadership, HIV, Human Rights & Gender) in communities and to facilitate links between CSOs and governments. This meeting in Goroka is for all the relevant representatives from partnering CSOs and our organisation to get together to share experiences and discuss how things can be improved.

On Tuesday we took a visit to one of the communities that a CSO partner - Nasahiri Women’s Association works with. The community of Lopsta is so motivated that the adults take literacy classes at night as they are too busy working in their gardens in the day. Someone from the community has donated their land and the community has built their own school. We attend the school opening and there is some good quality singing, dancing, drama and local food – yum. It is inspiring to talk to such motivated people!

Richard braved the four hour PMV ride on his own to come up to Goroka for the weekend. It was good to be togther and explore the place a bit.