Media release
8 April 2010
For immediate release
Australia supports Karkum community project
Karkum villagers in the Madang Province have impressed the Australian High Commissioner Ian Kemish with their initiative to set up community projects.
Mr Kemish who was in Madang on an official visit from April 7 to 8, visited Karkum in the Sumkar District where villagers are building a village community hall using the Australian High Commission’s Head of Mission Direct Aid Program (HOMDAP) funding.
Mr Kemish was able to see the work being done on the community hall which will be a multi-purpose facility. Some of the ways it will be used will be for village meetings, training, and clinics for women and children.
“It is a real pleasure to be here to see how the community hall HOMDAP project is progressing.
“I am particularly pleased that the Australian High Commission can support communities like Karkum that have shown great initiative in successfully setting up other community projects in the past,” Mr Kemish said.
A turtle restoration project and village water supply project are two projects Karkum has successfully set up and Mr Kemish was happy to see the people of Karkum working together to improve the standard of living in their community.
“I’m confident that the community hall will be of great benefit to the people of Karkum when it is completed,” Mr Kemish said.
HOMDAP is a small discretionary fund aimed at development in Papua New Guinea by assisting disadvantaged people and communities. Projects must benefit communities, rather than families or individuals.