Updater Jul- Aug 2011 - Highlands Pacific

Women in Ramu Nico
Women With Vision To Change
Local Perception
08
MANY Women in PNG were once denied
their basic rights under the traditional
Melanesian man dominated society. They
were treated to bearing and raising children,
care for household matters and carry out
household chores.
The women in Ramu NiCo Project impact area
are no exception. Agatha Yomba, one of their
daughters, who grew up and experienced
this mistreatment, reveals that things are now
beginning to change for the women from the
Ramu NiCo areas, after the Ramu Project set
foot in their area.
Agatha, the incumbent Gender Officer
with the Project started working since Oct
29, 2007 under the Community Affairs
Department. Her main tasks are to implement
Ramu NiCo programs in educating Project
impacted women.
“Girls were not allowed to go to school.
Parents think that it will be waste of money
so they remain in the village and arrange for
marriage.”
“Husbands treat them as properties – only to
bear children, raise the child, do gardening
and look after the house,” Agatha said.
Agatha proudly said this has changed
tremendously in the short period since Ramu
NiCo set foot in Madang, and especially in
KBK and Basamuk.
As a local woman, Agatha educates her
village women to know their rights and move
on with today’s changes. Through CA Gender
Desk, she looks at the affairs of the women
and tries to help them through Ramu NiCo
funded programs.
“We educate and address on issues like
violence against women, women and children
welfare, training and capacity building, skills
training, budget and business opportunities,
book keepings, address marital issues,
educating women on teenage pregnancy ,
health and hygiene and others,”
“We also teach them the right to vote and set
up their woman association to address women
affairs.”
Ninthly-nine percent of the women in the
impact areas are uneducated. However, since
2007, a lot of positive changes have taken
place through Agatha’s efforts.
Agatha said that she likes her job which
touches people’s life directly and is happy
seeing tangible and positive outcomes.
“I am dealing with women and youths. These
are the fabric of the society, who can make
or break the society, especially the mine area
where Ramu NiCo operates.”
“When seeing them taking positive action
towards their lives and accommodating the
chAllanges Ramu NiCo brings, I am happy,”
Agatha said.
Agatha works along with her colleague
Anna Kuwiza, also a local woman. They draft
and implement programs from KBK mine to
Basamuk refinery including pipeline areas.
They have contributed tremendously towards
the CA department and Ramu NiCo Project
given their local knowledge.
“We want to do more for our women and
see them change with rest of PNG. That's our
hope and remains our dream,” they said.
Agatha (standing) and Anna, her colleague
Mark Tumoia
“
We highly care about the safety of our colleagues and
passengers… so we ensure all vehicles are mechanically fit. We
want to power Ramu NiCo Project by ensuring the bolts and nuts,
including the wheels, steers and gears are functional when we take
on the journey towards the success of the long waited Ramu NiCo
Project.”
Mark Tumoia
Mark and other mechanics at the workshop
Senior Motor Mechanic – Ramu NiCo
www.ramunico.com