WOMEN'S COORDINATION SERVICES PROGRAM
By Francisca Oneke
Diocesan Women's Services Coordinator
INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to the Women's Services Program.
I am happy that you have visited this site, and I invite you to read on. We have lots in store for you to know about.
Discover and be amazed at how this program has changed throughout the years to becoming a bonding bridge for the women folk, regardless of race, religion and culture, in all walks of life.
OBJECTIVE:
The main objective of this program is to provide, facilitate, foster and co-ordinate the spiritual, social and economic activities, affairs, needs and interests of women at all levels of the Women's Association in the Diocese of Aitape.
HISTORY:
The initial Diocesan Women's Association was first established in 1984 by a keen young Franciscan Missionary Priest, Fr. Salvator Dougerty OFM, a New Zealander who played a vital role by providing educational and pastoral services for the people of Aitape Diocese since the early sixties.
Fr. Salavator engaged a laity, Ms. Lucy Keino who apart from her Peace and Justice Coordinator's role also co-ordinated the womens' program for 22 years. However at that time not enough attention was given because of financial problems and so the association became stagnant. The deep thirst of the women folk for knowledge and personal growth was blocked.
By 2006, the Aitape Renewal Pastoral Plan was already effective and so made way for the Co-orperate Plan to be in place. At that time a professional planner and Architech, Mr. Maran Nateleo created a Women's Coordinator's position, in which women's programs and services were catered for.
This was indeed a sign of progression for the women as they looked forward in hope to an organisation that would welcome them whole-heartedly and value their unique contributions.
Recognising the women's needs, the Women's Coordinator immediately made a move to re-activate the associations by conducting conferences, workshops, meetings, visits and seminars to unite, promote, educate and urge women to take correct actions in improving their difficult life situations and issues which challenge them as women.
This Association comprises of three (3) Deanery Associations, 24 Parish Associations, 100 Sub-Parish Associations and over 500 Community Clubs. All working in and among 40, 000 Catholic Women in the Diocese. The majority of these associations and clubs (about 90%) are operating in the remote areas, actively responding to the Pastoral Renewal of the Catholic Church despite the difficult geographical features of this area of Sandaun Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
After having realised these vital needs in the lives of the women, the coordinator then chose creative alternatives by providing an opporunity for the multitude to participate and converse, share ideas and experiences, gain knowledge and form new found relationships with one another. This being purposely to enable the full participation of the majority of women in each area of the Diocese.
Although this was an important advantage in the empowering of the women, this initative also brought with it, it's disadvantages. Such problems as financial constraints, bad road conditions and unavailability of transportation mediums have been hindering the progress of these vital services to be provided adequately. The hiring of private and company vehicles has always been very, very costly, and together with the appauling road conditions, it is usual to experience sleepless nights on the side of the road along certain parts of the highway.
And of course, one is only human to feel discouraged by such factors and therefore causing as a result, incompletion of annually planned program activities as scheduled.
ANNUALLY PLANNED ACTIVITIES:
The initial planning and programing of the Aitape Diocesan Catholic Women's Program is derived from it's objective as stated earlier above. Table shown below are the estimated Planned Activities and Budget for 2009 to 2012.
| NO | ACTIVITY | BUDGET ESTIMATE (in '000' Kina) | ANNUAL (K400, 000.00) | |
| 01. | Four (4) Diocesan Executive Meetings conducted | 4x Meetings @ K3, 000.00 = K12, 000.00 | ||
| 02. | Two Momase & Two National Meetings conducted | 4x Meetings @ K4, 000.00 = K16, 000.00 | ||
| 03. | Aitape Deanery workshops | 3x workshops @ K2, 000.00 = K6, 000.00 | ||
| 04. | Lumi Deanery Workshops | 1x workshop @ K3, 000.00 = K3, 000.00 | ||
| 05. | Nuku Deanery workshop | 1x workshop @ K3, 000.00 = K3, 000.00 | ||
| 06. | Momase Regional Women's Conference | 1x conference @ K20, 000.00 = K20, 000.00 | ||
| 07. | Parish Association visits | 26x parishes @ K400.00/visit = K10, 400.00 | ||
| 08. | Office Services Computer | 1x computer @ K3, 000.00 = K3, 000.00 | ||
| 09. | Office Stationeries | Total cost of all items @ K10, 000.00 | ||
| 10. | Fuel (Office Scooter, Truck & Boat) | 3x transport mediums @ K2, 000.00 = K6, 000.00 | ||
| 11. | Truck Hire | 4x Hires @ K5, 000.00/hire = K20, 000.00 | ||
| 12. | Projects:
|
6x projects @ K10, 000/project = K60, 000.00 | ||
| 13. | Diocesan Women's Resource Centre | 1x resource centre (building) @ K200, 000.00 = K2000, 000.00 | ||
| TOTAL ESTIMATED FUNDING NEEDED = | K369, 400.00 ~ K400, 000.00 |
Since July of year 2006 when I took up this position as a Diocesan Women's Coordinator, I have come to realise the serious responsibility towards my simple, peace-loving, women in the diocese and therefore, I feel that it is my duty to listen, respond and work closely in attending to their needs. Keeping in mind that three quarters (3/4) of these 40, 000 women are illiterate of course.
So far, I have had workshops and meetings conducted at the Diocesan and Deanery levels, emphasising on the roles and rights of the women, in a society where such traditions present today cripple women and prevent them from walking upright with dignity, a true sense of self-worth.
These workshops, meetings and seminars have really made a gateway for my women here to come out freely of who they were, leave the old paths, find out where the best road is, walk on it and they will live in peace.
Changing attitudes, beliefs, practices and priorities in the work of an entire association is a huge task and a long journey so I am struggling to educate my women to begin with themselves, their families and small circle of friends in their communities.
The fruit of the activities conducted had driven the women to be together during the Assumption, Thanksgiving Celebration held on the 13th to 16th of August of 2009. Women for the first time ever in the history of Aitape gathered as one. This was the biggest gathering of people ever seen in Aitape.
Around 5, 000 Catholic women together with men and youths from every parish in the Diocese. The women gathered for a better understanding of their faith; to promote awareness of the dignity of women and their rightful places in their communities.
In the Aitape Diocese Pastoral Plan for this year, the theme is JUSTICE. So this was picked up by the women pleading for justice for women and an end to the violence against women.
It was indeed an experience of deep joy as my eyes were actually seing the thousands of pilgrims who walked over the mountains accompanied by their missionary priests, brothers, sisters, youths and men as security. Most took 4 to 5 nights on the way before reaching the main diocesan headquarters to celebrate.
The joyful presence of these simple women lifted the whole town of Aitape. The program was infact, broadcasted through the media (NBC - Radio Sandaun, Radio Maria, P.M. & Radio Australia - PNG Service).
A canvas city took shape in three different locations, representing the three deaneries of Aitape, Lumi and Nuku, sheltering women for the 5 days celebration.