Sisters Freda and Viola Kaura – like many women in remote and rural parts of Papua New Guinea – may not have considered themselves leaders, but they chose to challenge norms and teamed up to drive forward a water security project for the benefit of their community.
Last year, Freda volunteered to work alongside her sister Viola on the Oro Water Security Project in their village of Sisireta in Northern Province. The Project is a partnership between the Oro Provincial Government, the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) and the Australian Government.
“We’ve always done almost everything together,” Freda said, “whether it’s sharing food, household goods, going to the markets or walking to the river and gardens.”
Freda and Viola supported each other to balance their duties at home and on the project site.
They shared the workload and looked forward to seeing the benefits it would bring their community. It was a significant achievement, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a critical need for water for hygiene and sanitation.
Freda said that participating in the project was an opportunity to show that women could contribute to the community’s development.
“I told Freda we should work together on this project as it will benefit us and the whole community,” Viola said.
The project has employed over 200 local people and reached 18 communities – each receiving two 9,000L water tanks connected to a newly constructed 12 metre by four metre meeting area to capture rainwater.
Freda and Viola grabbed the attention of the village community by carrying sand from the river to mix with cement for the tank slab.
Women carrying sandbags is not a usual sight in PNG when it comes to construction work. These two sisters led by example and empowered other female workers to join in. Male and female community members followed their example and worked together to complete the project for the benefit of the whole community.
“I wanted to help my sister and my community, so I took the initiative to lead by example and gave whatever time I had to carry sand,” Freda said.
“When we work together with the men, they value our input and see us making a difference in the community.”
Leadership comes in many forms and, in light of International Women’s Day 2021, which was marked last week, it is important to choose to challenge gender norms, celebrate women's achievements, raise awareness against bias and act for equality.
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