Responding to the requests of the women from the Blek Wara (a wetland area) close to Washkuk Hill, on the Middle Sepik course, the heads of the communities organized a workshop – Women life skills training, in Tongujamb, 2015.
The Catholic Church from Wewak sent two sisters to teach them how to bake and sew using a machine. Up to 150 women enrolled for the six days training. To some of them, it took a day of walking and paddling to come to Tongujamb. They paid a 50 Kina fee (20 USD, money which requires weeks of savings) necessary for buying materials and ingredients, like cloth and imported flour. It’s a lot of money for people who seldom have an income.
I questioned how many of them would make use of those skills, but I think that’s less important. They took this initiative and managed to attend vocational training. They are from communities living from the forest, river and swamps, deep in the wetlands surrounding the Sepik River. Most of the adult women have never been to school. According to local administration accounts, there’s around 70% illiteracy.
On the closing day, watched by their relatives and neighbours, the daring women were awarded a Participant Certificate.
Ground rules for course participants.
1 – Don’t spit betel nuts!
2 – Don’t make noise or disturb.
3 – Don’t fight.
4 – Respect the others.
5 – Share.
6 – Don’t steal.
7 – Need something, ask for it.
8 – You have questions, look for the committee.
