Milne Bay Additional Community Priorities

Droughts have been having a devastating impact on rainforest communities in Papua New Guinea.

Once regarded as 50-year events, we have seen two major droughts in the last decade, with devastating impacts. The failure of crops and the loss of fresh water can destroy livelihoods and make villages vulnerable to approaches from oil palm companies. That’s why installing eight 9,000 litre tanks to store water from the rainy season in the community of Wabumari has been so important. They help provide a constant source of fresh water and this increases resilience to climate change – all leading to protecting forest against encroaching oil palm.

With Cool Earth’s investment, Gadaisu have built a primary school with space for 145 children.

Parents and teachers of Gadaisu primary school put together a proposal to help Grade 8 children attend secondary education. The community association, Yakolima Committee, accepted and used Cool Earth funding worth Kina 4,000, to financially support these children through the next step of their schooling.

The bursaries have already seen some success stories with pupils, Jerry Dauge and Leleu David having recently completed vocational courses in hospitality, a widely recognised subject in Papua New Guinea. Jerry has completed a course over the last two years with a focus on baking and has come back to help with the Dabu Bakery as work experience. Leleu has recently completed a course in hospitality with a focus on housekeeping. Bursaries have been awarded to 17 children to attend secondary school or vocational courses in Alotau.