By JOEKARL DIAZ Date Posted: September 7, 2007
Once again GK Youth from Australia visited the GK village in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea for two weeks this year on the 28th July to 12th Aug to show their support to our smaller sister country and to extend their care to the poor people of PNG.
This time around we did not build any houses nor any infrastructure, but we closely witnessed and experienced the building and healing of relationships in a GK village. After more than two years since the GK village was established, old wounds still lingered in a few of the villager’s hearts.
The loving principle of GK and the effectiveness of the value formation program were tested. I saw in the attitude of the GK beneficiaries and GK workers that many have fully embraced the loving and forgiving nature of GK as they hugged and cried with the few that were still lost. In a matter of four days the wound healed and once more the GK village was whole again.
Clan Chief Dikana of the GK village opened his speech in the GK PNG Congress with: “...the old is gone, and the new has come!” followed by an appreciative applause from the audience with tingling goose bumps. PNG held its first GK Congress on the 11th Aug honouring its numerous GK partners and volunteers and showcasing the colourful traditional dancing of the GK beneficiaries in their traditional costumes.
20 houses are currently standing in the GK PNG village with close future plans for a medical centre, a multi-purpose hall and a temporary school. Kids from SIBOL are continuing their learning with volunteer teachers however shortly impeded by the lack of schooling facility.
The vegetable garden is flourishing with lettuce, okra, eggplant, tomatoes and many more in spite of the dry condition. Visitors purchasing vegetables had helped the livelihood of the GK village to expand their garden and other necessities. The beneficiaries had been busy tending their garden, hunting for wallabies, deer and pigs, making kundus and craftworks and learning and teaching the young ones the lost traditional dances.
GK PNG greatly need volunteers especially those in teaching, architecture and engineering fields. We await for GKY GAT PNG next year because GK Youth will keep going to continue building relationships with the poor no matter where.
The vegetable garden is flourishing with lettuce, okra, eggplant, tomatoes and many more in spite of the dry condition. Visitors purchasing vegetables had helped the livelihood of the GK village to expand their garden and other necessities. The beneficiaries had been busy tending their garden, hunting for wallabies, deer and pigs, making kundus and craftworks and learning and teaching the young ones the lost traditional dances.
