By Vasinatta Yama – EMTV News, Mt Hagen
TThirty-three women in Western Highlands Province have received a certificate in Small and Medium enterprise, after two weeks of undergoing the training.
Many of them are survivors of Gender Based Violence.
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency or ADRA [AD-RA] facilitated the program at the Western Highlands SDA Mission in Mt Hagen.
Most of the mothers are illiterate widows, single parent and survivors of Gender-Based Violence, that have undergone the life skill training.
Some have been rejected by their family members, because they cannot provide for the family.
The two weeks of life skill training has changed their lives.
They can sew blouses, skirts and shirts, fix sewing machines, do flower and material decorations, budget their little income and simple steps to banking.
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency or ADRA is a humanitarian arm of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Under their humanitarian program is a sub-program called TANA, which stands for, They Are Not Alone.
The TANA program tries to address social issues such as Gender Based Violence, and all forms of violence and discrimination in the society.
The Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have also assisted ADRA PNG, and the Church Partnership Project to successfully conduct the training.
All the graduands have walked away with a new sewing machine each.
The Church will also build a safe place for GBV survivors called Centre of Influence for such mothers to share their experience and knowledge to each other.
Churches are being urged to addressing all forms of violence at Church, to support the National Government’s visions.
The women also displayed their sewing products at their graduation.