April 2nd 2009 - Digicel Foundation Launches 13th Mobile Learning Centre

Port Moresby:  The Gawad Kalinga Village behind Gerehu suburb in Port Moresby today received much needed support from the Digicel PNG Foundation with the donation of a community mobile learning centre. This is the 13th Mobile Learning Centre (MLC) with 12 others already launched throughout the country within the last 5 months.

Gawad Kalinga Village, in the once notorious Gerehu Stage 6 area, had given away much of their traditional land to the State for the development and expansion of Port Moresby City but never received any form of basic services in return. It was not until in 2005 when the internationally renowned humanitarian group ‘Gawad Kalinga’ intervened that assistance came in the form of the construction of 20 standard 2 bedroom units for the village community.  Since then, GKPNG has been active in working with the community in bringing other services such as a health clinicto the community.

‘Gawad Kaling’ originally from the Philippines, is an international humanitarian group that assists the poor and marginalized communities with services such as housing, water and sanitation and has networks in various parts of the world including PNG. It is a voluntary membership group made up out of individuals from different professional backgrounds who work together to assist marginalized communities. The donation of the mobile learning centre today was made to compliment the effort of Gawad Kalinga PNG in its drive to build and strengthen communities in PNG.

The village preschool here with up to 50 children had been operating  in the open  underneath the trees with a voluntary teacher from the community. The Digicel PNG Foundation recognised the need for these children to have a roof above their heads and some basic school materials such as library books, slates and a school blackboard. The learning centre will also be used for other skill based training for mothers and youths as well as a venue for various awareness programs for the community.

The Foundation will be rolling out another 8 Mobile Learning Centres throughout the country this month with 4 to be launched in Port Moresby, 2 in Lae and another 2 more set for Goroka bringing the total to 25 mobile learning centres.