Caption: Digicel PNG Foundation board and
staff pose with the annual report for the 2014-2015 year.
By MATTHEW VARI
Sunday, December 13, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)
IN its seventh straight year of existence, Digicel PNG Foundation announced yet another successful year period from 2014 to 2015 with a total investment in its target program areas to the tune K11.2 million.
Focusing in areas of access to basic education, to basic health, community building, services with people with special needs, and addressing violence- incoming foundation Board Chairman Douveri Henao said that the foundation had grown its footprint in the country when presenting its annual report.
“Apart from a corporate governance point of view- the report itself also gives us an opportunity to inform everyone, not only the state of our financials but also the activities that we have undertaken in the financial year of 2014 and 2015,” Douveri said.
“Reflecting on the year we have continued to grow our footprint in the districts. My predecessor (Richard Kassman) would have identified that the objective was to strengthen our footprint right across the 89 districts. That has been achieved.”
“We are now looking at consolidating our focus in the local governments in particular the development of our classrooms.”
He said that the goal was not just to build learning infrastructures but to also strengthen that environment for conducive learning.
“We work very closely with government and also the opportunity is presenting itself to work with development partners. “
“A quite novel and innovative project we have launched which is the Men of Honour Awards in 2014 2015 we attracted 392 nominations.”
“We have decided to address violence through the lens of empowering in most cases the perpetrators which are the men.”
“By recognizing that we are saying that not all men are responsible for violence and there are champions out there in our communities and by acknowledging the strengths, the good will, the intension of these men they will start a culture of following in a masculine society like this that it is okay to be a father, to be leader to participate and strengthen.”
The year saw: 58 classrooms built in 29 schools; 5 libraries constructed; 5 mobile health clinics; 68 community based teachers graduate; 82 people with disability benefit from rehabilitation programs; 3,300 individuals from socially marginalized communities earn basic business skill certification; and 392 nominations for the Men of Honour Awards.
“We would like to promote inclusive growth opening ourselves to say we are here to partner with you,” Foundation CEO Beatrice Mahuru said.
“Since 2008 we have invested into PNG K45 million, 451 classrooms, 21 mobile clinics, family support centers, 3 women resource centers, 10 libraries, all for PNG’s growth.”
“13000 men and women graduated through our life and business skills program. 221 teacher graduate through our teachers training program.”
“Over the last seven year we have 15000 children access good education space and we have seen this. Our classrooms come with inclusive accessories equipment like blackboards desks, and solar lights.”
“In the Health space, 460,000 people have accessed health services where they could not access.”
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