JICA Presentation Highlights Challenges faced by Volunteers

By Tamara Pia Agavi, EMTV Cadet Journalist – Port Moresby

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), conducted its quarterly presentation today highlighting what its volunteers were engaged in over the past year.

The Japanese Cooperation in Papua New Guinea focuses on three priority areas. These consist of six programs which cover individual projects, training and volunteer programs.

The areas of focus for JICA in PNG are Strengthening Economic growth, improvement of social service with education and health as its top priority, including climate change.

 Presentations today were in the fields of education, community development, environmental education, agriculture and health.

Priscilla Kavana, the JICA Volunteer Coordination Officer, said one of the main challenge that JICA faces in its community assistance and delivery is safety of the volunteers.

Kavana furthermore said that not many of the volunteers are stationed in other provinces due to the high rate of criminal activities. She said the current provinces with a JICA volunteer representative is Popondetta, Goroka, Alotau, Kokopo, Manus, Kimbe, Morobe and Port Moresby.   

Tatsunori Yoshimura, an environmental educationist volunteer based in Kokopo, said that climate change and conservation is an issue not fully understood by many communities.

Since 1974, the Japanese government through JICA has provided 5.52 billion kina. Much of this assistance going to programs in the fields of health, education and community service awareness.