Primary School needed for remote PNG village
Donation protected
Hello and welcome to my PNG Remote Education Fundraiser.
Firstly, let me thank you for taking the time to read all about what we want to achieve.
My name is Julian Craig and I recently returned to the village in remote PNG where I lived with my family in 1972-73. The first time in 47yrs. My parents are Anthropologists and were there studying the people of this area. Some of the children that I used to play with were still alive and welcomed us into their village and homes as family.
Above picture - This is my closest childhood friend, Fioukmou and his family.
While I was there I was asked to help raise money for a Private, Community run Primary School to be built (including desks etc), for the current teaches to attend teachers college to upgrade their qualifications and to fund two new teachers to take their place while they are away from the village for two years of study. We will also be providing all the schools learning materials and teaching aids.
So, the three remote villages of Idam Number 1 on the Idam River in the West Sepik area of Papua New Guinea need your help.
Above picture - We are meeting the children in their church building. They have a population of around 1000 (around 250 children with only 2 teachers!)
Above picture - I am speaking to the School Students, especially the Year 8's, who start their exams in two days, about doing their absolute best and being able to achieve anything that they put their mind to, which will help them springboard themselves to much higher levels of achievement than that which they may not have thought possible. Maybe even become the Prime Minister of PNG one day!
They do not have an Primary School for their villages and the government will not provide one. So I am fundraising to have a school building and houses for the new teachers built, including their salaries of just over $6000 per year each and to have the current teachers attend further studies so they can obtain their Diplomas so they can teach Primary School level in two years time.
It is also very important to have indigenous teachers who help the children adapt to learning the English language (one of the hardest in the world I'm told) because most children only speak their native tongue or Melanesian Pidgin. And of course the earlier they can learn English the better, although maintaining their own language is very important as well. There is very little English spoken or understood in the village because of lack of education which in turn puts them at a major disadvantage when dealing with Westerners and Companies in the future, that come to exploit their resources. They are having to adapt to Western influences even more so right now.
SO CAN YOU HELP OUT WITH A FINANCIAL DONATION? Even a little bit? Every donation counts and we will have an honour board for all those that donate and something very special to acknowledge those who donate $500 or more - a commemorative plaque that will be unveiled at the opening of the school in Late Jan 2020 and a special gift from the community. If you donate over $2000 you will receive a personal invitation from the Headman (Lului) on behalf of the community to visit the village and be personally thanked by the people you have helped so much. That will be an experience you will treasure for ever and certainly never forget!
TIMING???
WE WANT TO HAVE THE PROJECT COMPLETED BY MID TO LATE JANUARY IN TIME FOR THE START OF THE 2020 SCHOOL YEAR IN EARLY FEBRUARY!
That doesn't give us much time, although they can build the facilities in two weeks and with your incredible help we can definitely achieve this!
Above picture - Here is an initial site plan for the school grounds and teachers residences.
Above picture - They are clearing this site on Monday November 18th, 2019 in preparation for the building to commence as soon as possible.
We already have some of the money for building materials donated although we need another $35000 for this project, which will cover all expenses for the first year. If we raise more we can afford to hire more teachers to reduce the teacher-student ratio of 1 to 100! We have four ready to relocate!
Even the smallest of donations will assist these beautiful people!
Above picture - Not even all of the children are in this photo as school has just finished and some have gone to their bush gardens with their families.
Thank you on behalf of the communities of the three villages that make up Idam Number 1. Wapfai, Bamblediam and Isahu.
Firstly, let me thank you for taking the time to read all about what we want to achieve.
My name is Julian Craig and I recently returned to the village in remote PNG where I lived with my family in 1972-73. The first time in 47yrs. My parents are Anthropologists and were there studying the people of this area. Some of the children that I used to play with were still alive and welcomed us into their village and homes as family.
Above picture - This is my closest childhood friend, Fioukmou and his family. While I was there I was asked to help raise money for a Private, Community run Primary School to be built (including desks etc), for the current teaches to attend teachers college to upgrade their qualifications and to fund two new teachers to take their place while they are away from the village for two years of study. We will also be providing all the schools learning materials and teaching aids.
So, the three remote villages of Idam Number 1 on the Idam River in the West Sepik area of Papua New Guinea need your help.
Above picture - We are meeting the children in their church building. They have a population of around 1000 (around 250 children with only 2 teachers!) Above picture - I am speaking to the School Students, especially the Year 8's, who start their exams in two days, about doing their absolute best and being able to achieve anything that they put their mind to, which will help them springboard themselves to much higher levels of achievement than that which they may not have thought possible. Maybe even become the Prime Minister of PNG one day!They do not have an Primary School for their villages and the government will not provide one. So I am fundraising to have a school building and houses for the new teachers built, including their salaries of just over $6000 per year each and to have the current teachers attend further studies so they can obtain their Diplomas so they can teach Primary School level in two years time.
It is also very important to have indigenous teachers who help the children adapt to learning the English language (one of the hardest in the world I'm told) because most children only speak their native tongue or Melanesian Pidgin. And of course the earlier they can learn English the better, although maintaining their own language is very important as well. There is very little English spoken or understood in the village because of lack of education which in turn puts them at a major disadvantage when dealing with Westerners and Companies in the future, that come to exploit their resources. They are having to adapt to Western influences even more so right now.
SO CAN YOU HELP OUT WITH A FINANCIAL DONATION? Even a little bit? Every donation counts and we will have an honour board for all those that donate and something very special to acknowledge those who donate $500 or more - a commemorative plaque that will be unveiled at the opening of the school in Late Jan 2020 and a special gift from the community. If you donate over $2000 you will receive a personal invitation from the Headman (Lului) on behalf of the community to visit the village and be personally thanked by the people you have helped so much. That will be an experience you will treasure for ever and certainly never forget!
TIMING???
WE WANT TO HAVE THE PROJECT COMPLETED BY MID TO LATE JANUARY IN TIME FOR THE START OF THE 2020 SCHOOL YEAR IN EARLY FEBRUARY!
That doesn't give us much time, although they can build the facilities in two weeks and with your incredible help we can definitely achieve this!
Above picture - Here is an initial site plan for the school grounds and teachers residences.Above picture - They are clearing this site on Monday November 18th, 2019 in preparation for the building to commence as soon as possible. We already have some of the money for building materials donated although we need another $35000 for this project, which will cover all expenses for the first year. If we raise more we can afford to hire more teachers to reduce the teacher-student ratio of 1 to 100! We have four ready to relocate!
Even the smallest of donations will assist these beautiful people!
Above picture - Not even all of the children are in this photo as school has just finished and some have gone to their bush gardens with their families.Thank you on behalf of the communities of the three villages that make up Idam Number 1. Wapfai, Bamblediam and Isahu.
Organizer
Julian Craig
Organizer
Ovingham, SA