PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Mt. Elimbari, Chimbu Province - July 2005
Construction of a literacy school for the Gaigibi community in support of the establishment of a 25-acre highlands forest conservation area
Chimbu Province in the Papua New Guinean Highlands is the most densely populated province in the country. Almost all the existing old-growth forest is restricted to the least accessible isolated peaks of the region. The Gaigibi community, who live on the slopes of the 9,020-foot Mt. Elimbari, has set aside 25 acres of forest as a community conservation project. They have already demarcated the area, produced a set of rules for its usage and have a governing committee. To support this conservation area, Seacology will provide funding for the construction and furnishing of a school building to be used for adult and child literacy teaching. Children and adults from 19 villages, with a population of around 17,000, will be eligible to attend the school. *
UPDATE January 2006 - All construction work has been completed. The school building is being used for lessons and an official opening ceremony will take place in early 2006.
UPDATE June 2006 - All construction work was completed at the end of 2005. Supplies for the school were purchased earlier this year. 250 children are now enrolled and there are three teachers. An official opening ceremony for the school and the conservation area is planned for July.
UPDATE January 2007 - The project leader left the village in May 2006 making communication with the village difficult. Field representative Helen Perks is continuing her efforts to find a new contact for the village so Seacology can receive reports on the long term success of the project.
*Support for asterisked projects is provided fully or in part by the
Nu
Skin Enterprises Force for Good Foundation
