OUR PROGRAMMES - Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Prevention of Disability

People with disabilities, particularly disabilities from leprosy, are often hidden by their family and community. This project has helped to find the leprosy disabled and raise the awareness of disability from leprosy and other causes. The goal was to establish a register of people disabled by leprosy throughout Papua New Guinea and over the past three years this has been achieved but the project does not stop with a list of names. The disabled have been encouraged to form self help groups so they can support each other and in two cases the groups have come up with income generation proposals that are now a project in their own right. There will be more to follow as more self help groups come together. This project attracts New Zealand Government subsidies.

Papua New Guinea "Chicken Run"

This new project involving the establishment of poultry farms started mid 2005. It is an initiative of the self help groups in the Oro and New Ireland provinces. By the end of the project both the self help groups will have a functioning chicken co-operative that will provide a steady income for the families involved, giving them control over their lives, whereas previously they were dependent on handouts and some family support.

VASS funding: $4 for $1 donated