Today Papua New Guinea celebrates its National Disability Day. The Madang Disability Group worked together to host the Province's largest and most engaging disability day yet! The theme was Bung Wantaim, Wok Wantaim, Stap Wantaim (Come together, work together and stay together). The Governor was the key speaker and other governmental officials gave speeches and recognition during the event including the Mayor (who has a disability as a result of being shot by the police before "God saved him from his life as a criminal").
The Day started with a parade of floats, singsing groups including a bamboo band who uses flip flops to drum the music! It was incredible! A brass band, drums, traditional dancers, songs in sign language, ability sports, and a comedy act by PNG's famous comedian Kanage! A huge crowd swarmed the event! There were over 10 stalls filled with awareness materials and resources from various partners who are working in the area of disability and equal participation.
Mi Wankain Olsem Yu! I am like you! The message of the day was to respect persons with disabilities as people with equal rights. I believe Bro Adrian, a person with disabilities who is a leader in disability rights in the country, got it right when he said, "Don't give us pity or tears. If you want to help us give us jobs, open your schools and your businesses."
Today was one of my best days in Papua New Guinea!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Patterns
Once you become familiar with a place, it becomes easier to pick up on the day to day activities and patterns. This is how we, as a human species, develop routines. I have to say that here in PNG nothing is ever day to day. There are no routines. Nothing can be expected. This is why Papua New Guinea is known as the "land of the unexpected."
I have always had a great sense of wonder. I desire more than a calm course of existence. And although each day of my life here in PNG brings a new level of excitement, I have noticed patterns. Patterns I have developed in my daily activities and patterns of those in my community.
Every afternoon I walk home. It’s a beautiful stroll along the coastal road. I recognize faces and give friendly greetings. Each morning my neighbor is sweeping the leaves in her yard. Each afternoon I find the same women behind their buai stands. Like school buses, the security companies make their routes picking up and dropping off truckloads of guards for patrols.
Each day I am visiting different schools and training different groups of teachers. My spontaneous schedule isn't the only thing that keeps the action going at work. The behavior patterns in my colleagues keep things spicy. There are those who are trustworthy and those who only highlight the predominate corrupt society that seems to plague development in PNG. There are those who lie directly to my face. Those who have obvious anger and aggression issues and physically attack other staff. Those who avoid me because they feel psychologists are able to read people's minds.
The one thing that has remained constant in my life is my desire to share happiness with others. As some of you may know, I am a big fan of the high five. I have noticed that high fives aren't appreciated in PNG. I once had a roommate who loathed high fives saying they were way over rated. As for myself, I love a high five. Here when I raise my hand for a celebratory high five people flinch and take cover as if were about to give them the beating of their lifetime. Even grown men raise their arms to protect themselves from my vicious high five! Who knew?! Guess that's a pattern I will have to break.
Each Friday night the VSO vols all meet at the Lodge. This is a pattern I tend to avoid. It's not that I don't enjoy the Lodge or the individual company of the volunteers. I just find it a bit uncomfortable for a huge group of white people hanging out ordering expensive plates of food and talking about how differently they would do things here in PNG. It's not a pattern I want to develop.
Most of you would laugh at the extreme measures Marleen and I find ourselves taking to get rid of the rats in our house. Each night we meticulously set out the rat traps. Marleen has formulated a routine. It's like she counts the pellets in the trap and knows the exact angle of the box or something. She seems certain that we haven't gotten them all yet.
I enjoy the excitement and the unknown of living in a culture different from my own. It challenges me each day. Just when I think I understand someone or something, they surprise me. Just when I think I understand an aspect of the life here in Madang, my eyes are opened and I discover a whole other meaning. I am constantly being flipped, turned upside down and round and round.
So maybe this is the pattern of life as a volunteer here in PNG. This is the pattern of my life. To be ever growing, changing, evolving!
I have always had a great sense of wonder. I desire more than a calm course of existence. And although each day of my life here in PNG brings a new level of excitement, I have noticed patterns. Patterns I have developed in my daily activities and patterns of those in my community.
Every afternoon I walk home. It’s a beautiful stroll along the coastal road. I recognize faces and give friendly greetings. Each morning my neighbor is sweeping the leaves in her yard. Each afternoon I find the same women behind their buai stands. Like school buses, the security companies make their routes picking up and dropping off truckloads of guards for patrols.
Each day I am visiting different schools and training different groups of teachers. My spontaneous schedule isn't the only thing that keeps the action going at work. The behavior patterns in my colleagues keep things spicy. There are those who are trustworthy and those who only highlight the predominate corrupt society that seems to plague development in PNG. There are those who lie directly to my face. Those who have obvious anger and aggression issues and physically attack other staff. Those who avoid me because they feel psychologists are able to read people's minds.
The one thing that has remained constant in my life is my desire to share happiness with others. As some of you may know, I am a big fan of the high five. I have noticed that high fives aren't appreciated in PNG. I once had a roommate who loathed high fives saying they were way over rated. As for myself, I love a high five. Here when I raise my hand for a celebratory high five people flinch and take cover as if were about to give them the beating of their lifetime. Even grown men raise their arms to protect themselves from my vicious high five! Who knew?! Guess that's a pattern I will have to break.
Each Friday night the VSO vols all meet at the Lodge. This is a pattern I tend to avoid. It's not that I don't enjoy the Lodge or the individual company of the volunteers. I just find it a bit uncomfortable for a huge group of white people hanging out ordering expensive plates of food and talking about how differently they would do things here in PNG. It's not a pattern I want to develop.
Most of you would laugh at the extreme measures Marleen and I find ourselves taking to get rid of the rats in our house. Each night we meticulously set out the rat traps. Marleen has formulated a routine. It's like she counts the pellets in the trap and knows the exact angle of the box or something. She seems certain that we haven't gotten them all yet.
I enjoy the excitement and the unknown of living in a culture different from my own. It challenges me each day. Just when I think I understand someone or something, they surprise me. Just when I think I understand an aspect of the life here in Madang, my eyes are opened and I discover a whole other meaning. I am constantly being flipped, turned upside down and round and round.
So maybe this is the pattern of life as a volunteer here in PNG. This is the pattern of my life. To be ever growing, changing, evolving!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
It's about attitudes!
It's not about resources; its about attitudes. Personal beliefs and attitudes have a direct effect on how one perceives a person with disabilities. Here in PNG, traditional, religious and medical/educational beliefs play a role in the development of a person's attitude. Traditionally in PNG culture some may believe that if a pregnant woman eats red fish from a certain area of the sea then her child will be born with a disability. Or if a woman goes into an area of the rainforest where the spirits have said is forbidden to pregnant women, then her child will have a disability. Some religious beliefs consider a disability as a punishment resulting from committing a sin. Although medical/education research have scientifically proven some causes of disabilities, the traditional and religious beliefs appear to be a contradiction. For these reasons, there are numerous misconceptions about people with disabilities. Awareness activities are essential to challenge ones beliefs and change their attitude towards providing persons with disabilities a barrier free society.
Along with awareness comes identification and early intervention.
In remote kindergarten schools, nurses target the country's most vulnerable children. At a recent training, I helped to empower the kindergarten teachers and spoke to them about the importance of early childhood education and identification.
In preparation for National Disability Day March 29th, we gave an awareness training for teachers. Desmond is a volunteer at the centre. Before he became blind he was a teacher in mainstream schools. Now he works with communities to promote the rights of persons with disabilities through awareness activities. He also provides home-based education for students with visual impairments in remote villages. Here, Desmond demonstrates Braille with teachers.
Desmond had a good laugh blindfolding teachers and sending them around the centre. In fact, by the end one teacher was begging to take the blindfold off and he said with his usual smile "I can't remove my blindfold, so neither can you."
Teachers experienced the daily struggles of persons with physical disabilities. While seated in a wheelchair they were asked to get a book off a shelf or put on a pair of pants.
When we reach out to teachers who express concerns about not having the right teaching aids or materials needed to help children with disabilities, we respond..."It's not about resources; It's about attitudes!" This is a lesson for us all around the world. I challenge those of you reading to reflect upon your personal attitudes and beliefs not only towards those with disabilities, but also those who are disadvantaged. How do you view the poor, those who have immigrated into your country, those with different religious or sexual views than your own, those who have nothing and live on the streets, the hungry, those who are forced to beg?
Mi wankain olsem you! We are the same! It's how we view one another that is different.
Along with awareness comes identification and early intervention.
In remote kindergarten schools, nurses target the country's most vulnerable children. At a recent training, I helped to empower the kindergarten teachers and spoke to them about the importance of early childhood education and identification.
In preparation for National Disability Day March 29th, we gave an awareness training for teachers. Desmond is a volunteer at the centre. Before he became blind he was a teacher in mainstream schools. Now he works with communities to promote the rights of persons with disabilities through awareness activities. He also provides home-based education for students with visual impairments in remote villages. Here, Desmond demonstrates Braille with teachers.
Desmond had a good laugh blindfolding teachers and sending them around the centre. In fact, by the end one teacher was begging to take the blindfold off and he said with his usual smile "I can't remove my blindfold, so neither can you."
Teachers experienced the daily struggles of persons with physical disabilities. While seated in a wheelchair they were asked to get a book off a shelf or put on a pair of pants.
When we reach out to teachers who express concerns about not having the right teaching aids or materials needed to help children with disabilities, we respond..."It's not about resources; It's about attitudes!" This is a lesson for us all around the world. I challenge those of you reading to reflect upon your personal attitudes and beliefs not only towards those with disabilities, but also those who are disadvantaged. How do you view the poor, those who have immigrated into your country, those with different religious or sexual views than your own, those who have nothing and live on the streets, the hungry, those who are forced to beg?
Mi wankain olsem you! We are the same! It's how we view one another that is different.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
20 Things
This is my attempt to quickly catch you up on what has been happening in my volunteer life recently.
1. I moved into a 3 bedroom house across from the sea near the golf course.
2. I drove on the left side of the road--and didn't kill anyone.
3. I have a Dutch roommate who loves Dolly Parton. (love ya Marleen)
4. We are busy planning a huge event for National Disability Day on March 28th
5. My backup pair of glasses broke, now I try to make it thru the day with contacts.
6. I said goodbye to Kina Beach and the broken water pump and moldy mattress!
7. I learned how to make pineapple beer.
8. I gave a lecture at Divine Word University on Inclusive Education.
9. I am networking with the National Disability Resource and Advocacy Centre.
10. I created an Inclusive Education brochure.
11. We are planning to give disability awareness in 25 schools in Madang District.
12. I try not to feel guilty that we now have a haus meri (cleaning lady)
13. I will be staying in PNG thru July 2010
14. The physiotherapist at the centre was charged with the sexual harassment of a female teacher and a blind male client attacked him with a screwdriver (he missed).
15. I chewed purple buai
16. I learned to make chairs from cardboard and newspaper.
17. I participated in a disability awareness in the village and I was able to understand most of the Pidgin language.
18. I attended Divine Word University Graduation to support my colleague Paul who is now among the 24 people in the Country who have a Bachelors in Special Education.
19. I discovered that chocolate macadamia coffee gets me out of bed in the mornings.
20. We now have 5 dogs (maybe more but I can't keep them straight), 2 chickens, and a cockatoo .
1. I moved into a 3 bedroom house across from the sea near the golf course.
2. I drove on the left side of the road--and didn't kill anyone.
3. I have a Dutch roommate who loves Dolly Parton. (love ya Marleen)
4. We are busy planning a huge event for National Disability Day on March 28th
5. My backup pair of glasses broke, now I try to make it thru the day with contacts.
6. I said goodbye to Kina Beach and the broken water pump and moldy mattress!
7. I learned how to make pineapple beer.
8. I gave a lecture at Divine Word University on Inclusive Education.
9. I am networking with the National Disability Resource and Advocacy Centre.
10. I created an Inclusive Education brochure.
11. We are planning to give disability awareness in 25 schools in Madang District.
12. I try not to feel guilty that we now have a haus meri (cleaning lady)
13. I will be staying in PNG thru July 2010
14. The physiotherapist at the centre was charged with the sexual harassment of a female teacher and a blind male client attacked him with a screwdriver (he missed).
15. I chewed purple buai
16. I learned to make chairs from cardboard and newspaper.
17. I participated in a disability awareness in the village and I was able to understand most of the Pidgin language.
18. I attended Divine Word University Graduation to support my colleague Paul who is now among the 24 people in the Country who have a Bachelors in Special Education.
19. I discovered that chocolate macadamia coffee gets me out of bed in the mornings.
20. We now have 5 dogs (maybe more but I can't keep them straight), 2 chickens, and a cockatoo .
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Women in Development
Women do two-thirds of the world's work but receive only 10% of the world's income. Women in Indonesia are 84 times more likely to die in childbirth than women in the UK. In the Amhara region of Ethiopia, at least half of the girls become wives before reaching their 15th birthday.
Indonesian women returning from the rice fields with their harvests.
Every year in every country March 8th marks the day when women's solidarity presses for equality. International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. This may be a day of global celebration but there is no room for complacency as women continue to face inequity on many fronts.
Girls are often the most marginalized and vulnerable members of society. There are 600 million adolescent girls in developing countries who don’t have even the most basic opportunities we take for granted.
We live in a world that tolerates the subjugating of women. There are however women who profess to be entirely happy with the status quo.
In the predominately Muslim countries of Indonesia and Malaysia, women wear head scarfs and conceal the natural shape of their bodies. These elements combine to produce hijab. During my travels, I saw some woman wearing black chadors (long cloaks that includes head covering), the most severe form of hijab.
I wore a chador while visiting a Muslim mosque during my religion tour in Jogjakarta.
Other Muslim women were wearing their scarves and modest attire with so little conviction. Appearance is every bit as important as in the West. Muslim women express their style and fashion on the streets, but are certain to stay within the law. In Indonesia the look can be quite glamorous with skinny jeans, rhinestone barrettes clasping the scarf in place, strappy, heeled sandals, Prada sunglasses and Gucci handbags. Since eyes, nose and hands are the only features on show, eye make-up is applied with scientific precision – and Tehran, in Iran has become the nose-job capital of the world, with 70,000 rhinoplasty operations a year.
Young girls express their style outside a Muslim school in Jayapura, Indonesia.
The scarf, often Hermès and in bright colors, is knotted under the chin, and tilted back at a flattering angle to show a broad band of hair. Blonde highlights and carefully coiffed fringes seem hot this season. Huge sunglasses pushed up on the head, and a short, tight-fitting belted coat over narrow jeans complete the look.
My bare shoulders and hand woven PNG bilum made me feel underdressed in more ways than one.
Here in PNG we work to empower women to play a full part in society, not just as typists or nurses. While visiting a school, the Head teacher repeatedly called out to “typist” as if this were her name, as if she had no other identity. Husbands tend to pull their educated wives out of their jobs because they want them to be in the house. This provides them no choice and takes away their independency and their identity.
Women’s Associations in Papua New Guinea work closely with women to provide counseling, continuing education opportunities, job training, business skills and other services to support them to become equal members of their communities.
Today, on International Women's Day, I send all my positive energies to all the women in my family and friends across the world.
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