Category Archives : 1000.Papua New Guinea


Lorraine Garasu (Papua New Guinea)

Sister Lorraine, a catalyst for non-violent peace initiatives through dialogue on Bougainville, helps people find their own ways to solve problems. She creates a positive atmosphere for peace. Sister Lorraine of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth in Bougainville, is trained as a community development worker. She has worked as a teacher and social […]

1889

1888

Josie Tankunani Sirivi (Papua New Guinea)

“Having lived and witnessed the suffering, I decided to do whatever I could to help our own unfortunate mothers and children.” Hunted by the Papua New Guinea Defense Force as bait to capture her husband, Josie Sirivi took to the jungle during the Bougainville crisis. She saw women and children suffering and organized local women […]


Helen Hakena (Papua New Guinea)

“I believe that I have a unique gift in building bridges between communities and authorities to bring more peaceful lives for the people of Bougainville.” Helen Hakena co-founded Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency (LNWDA) in 1992 and is its executive director. The key area of commitment was to restore peaceful lives for the people of […]

1887

1144

Mary Kini (Papua New Guinea)

“We are already victims of warfare. It cannot get worse so let us give our lives to work for peace. – People in Kup refer to us as ‘Mama Peace.’ I like that.” Constant tribal fighting in her Papua New Guinea (PNG) village prevented Mary Kini from completing her agricultural studies. Instead, she worked with […]


1142

Freda Talao (Papua New Guinea)

“Tears are words that heal deeper than we know.” Lawyer Freda Talao (40) is senior program officer for AusAID working mainly in the Law and Justice sector. She is also chair person of ICRAF, a human rights NGO in Papua New Guinea. She was executive director of the Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee. Over […]