Ladies and gentlemen, you are now in “Koare Konda Kids’ Community Forum”. This site is created by Koare Konda Kids for Koare Konda Kids to converge, meet, reflect and share ideas with one another. The motto above in the Kewabi language clearly speaks our collective minds that “everyone lifts up Koare”. As indicated by the motto, our main intention is to build a common ground and avenue where we can tell everyone, both Koare Konda Kids and others around the world about the state and condition of Koare at the moment in terms of service provisions and development. This is because we have not seen basic services and development reaching the poor silent majority in this rural and remote part of Southern Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea. Most people regard Koare as back-page as there is no apparent government basic services and development and to reach the nearest access road is by one to two days walk by foot. This has been the way of life for the people of Koare even during the traditional, stone-age days of our fore fathers, up to the colonial days, and to this day (2011) and beyond. We hope and believe that those who are out there will come to realize how we have been suffering over the years. It is therefore, our firm and strong believe and hope that through the usage of this site as an effective means of communication, all Koare Konda Kids will share their personal experiences, family experiences, struggles and hardships they have gone through and endured over the years, things individuals and groups have accomplished and faced with, how they have come out of the isolation and neglect through perseverance and self-determination, so that they can proudly shed light and show proper direction to the Koare children who are still suffering and will be suffering for the years to come. The site also provides an avenue for Koare Konda Kids to talk about their clan/tribal linkages and connections, talk about their village settings and lifestyle changes, talk about their village oriented success and failing stories, their language and custom structures that are fading away due to modernization and Christian believe systems, and talk about how they can move forward in future. This site further provides an invaluable avenue for the Koare Konda Kids to tease out their ideas and minds for common good, and chart their future aspirations and dreams through collaboration and consultation with each other. We are a new generation of Koare Konda Kids and it is our strong believe, hope and trust that when we converge and work together as a team, we believe in our own efforts and strengths, we believe in our own innovations and products, we believe in what we have achieved so far with no single help from outside sources, and want to collectively view these as our beacon of hope and chart our future aspirations and dreams in a more meaningful but simply way. We believe and have trust in our own abilities and we are for sure that we have to stand up for ourselves as no one will do it for us. Other people will only come in sheep’s clothe/skin, under the cover of darkness, pretending and assuming to be our helpers, our middle men and our saviors, but simply conning and manipulating, talking all the sweet talk that they can think of, coming with their own propaganda and vested interests to achieve for themselves, and simply to rob our birthrights. Hence, we have collectively said enough is enough as we want to talk about ourselves, speak for ourselves and do things for ourselves. God has helped us enormously over the years of our hardships and struggles and we for sure know He will continue to bless and help us to move ours and our children’s future forward through team work, one mind and one spirit. As you read our pages on this website/blog, you will come across moments of profound hardship and struggles which we are still experiencing in Koare to this day (2011), and if there is anyone out there, any human person with big heart out there, anyone who hears the cries and sees the tears of the Koare Konda Kids out there, please do help us. We need help in terms seeing true development and basic services reaching our poor people who are truly suffering, crying and dying in silence, we need help so that that those Koare Konda Kids left behind and forgotten over the years can be brought to the forefront, so that Koare can be one day in the front pages in terms of receiving what the white-man promised to our fore fathers as “development” when they were forcefully made to be Tultuls and Luluais to work for them when they first entered Koare Valley. Please help us fight for our birthright which was robbed by dogs, wolves and dingoes and help us come out of the stone-age and in turn we can proudly help our children. Thank you and may God bless you all as you journey through our pages
Some developing news at home….koare will now have its’ own high school by next year. Was declared last Saturday in koare by the Education auththorities from Port Moresby & mendi. Damn, no more walking to Kagua! Think of our time we use to walk from Koare to kagua and back. Thanks to Joel. A major road construction & rehabilitation funded by Asian Development bank (ADB-facilitated by David Were of Kuwi) will resume in two weeks time from now starting from Rindita in Kagua Road junction to waluanda.Removal & replacement of old bridges (Kagua close to rindita,Una and One at Koalilombo,mololoma) will commence this coming week. The cost of this is unknown but as from David Were when I talked to him in Lae, he said to ensure a 15 seater bus goes to pick up and drop off at Koare Market so hopefully will involve several millions of Kina. He will directly manage the project as a Manager for ADB in Highlands and also as a Regional works Boss up there in Highlands. Peter O’Neil has funded K650,00.00 for the road maintenance and Anderson Agiru has funded K350,000.People have already started working on the road with hands and using those trucks available in Koare including david Wasapes’ tractor. There was a rumor concerning unfair distribution of the earlier funds from Peter by Samson Were. Other councillors were given K20, 000.00 each while kuwi got K250, 000 and mapire K70, 000.00 Koare waluanda K70, 000.00 and rest were allocated K20, 000.00 from Ita to Mapenda.Some leaders asked Samson weres inability to properly allocate fund were needed and people have already condemn his attitude in Koare.He will as wel be a hypocrite to development in the area. People are already talking about putting up one our sons for next year’s elections and were a big discussion for all when all Koares met to discuss the presentation of high school by the education authorities including Joel Raitano last Saturday. These are news from Musa Kaiamo when he called me Yesturday from Koare. CONGRATULATIONS KOARE PEOPLE FOR THE SUCCESSFUL INCORPORATION OF THEIR OWN "KOARE RURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION". I am delighted to inform you all the Koare Konda Kids who call yourselves flesh and blood of Koare that the "Koare Rural Development Assiciation" as been fully and successfully incorporated as a legal entity and we now have the Association Registration Certificate with us now. Our action man Tonny Kondo has received the Association Certificate today (29 March 2012) and it is with with the Interim Committee in Port Moresby now under the care of Tonny Kondo. I am thrilled and delighted to declare that now Koare has a legally registered association which becomes the umbrella institution for any development to take effect in Koare. This Association is fully and truly belongs to the people of Koare and the success of this long and tedious work speaks for itself that Koare will always come out of the dolldrums one day and stick together as KOARE ONE. This is the very testimony to that dream and aspiration for the Koare people who have been suffering for far too long. Thank you to uncle Tonny Kondo for working extremely hard to make this a reality to help your mother land and the Koare Konda Kids will always cherish and thank you for all that you have done. On behalf of the Koare people, I as your immediate uncle give more blessings for you to prosper in your personal life and we will always remember you for giving us this golden cup to fill more blessings that will pour into the hands of the back-page people. We were once lost but now we are seeing light and God has been good to us Koares in so many ways. Finally we thank the Lord God Alnighty for making this registration a success and with God's grace we can see light at the end of the tunnel A need for Koare Konda Kid’s Association by John Rombo Dear Koare Konda Kids,
I wish to bring to your attention the need to form an association that will become an umbrella organization to speak out, speak about, speak for, and fight for the rights of the children of Koare. To start off I am calling this: "KOARE RURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION". This is because we have been neglected for far too long and there is an urgent need now to form this association. The association can become a legally recognized institution to fight for ALL RIGHTS that belong to the children of Koare. Without such an institution in place to advocate for our rights, we will always be regarded as "beke-piri carriers", way-back-lay-back group of people in the doldrums who cannot be able to stand up to fight for their rights which include basic services that belong to us. We will always be pushed aside, shut, ignored and we will always be told to come back the next day which the next day will turn into weeks, months and years, and eventually end up getting nothing. So what do we do now? It is easy to form an association. I am sure some boys from Koare have been talking about this but to this day nothing is done. That's why we have to put our heads together and build this institution based on team work and collaborative action so that we all take full responsibility for the growth and take ownership of it. Here is how we can do it:
Kind regards and let's think about this now and make it work. End of Article The National, Thursday 01st December 2011
THE Southern Highlands provincial government has allocated K3 million for a remote primary school to be elevated to high school status. Kuare Primary School is expected to be a high school by 2013 after appropriate facilities are set up. The provincial education department has confirmed securing the funds and said preparations were being made for infrastructure development in the school. Provincial education adviser Joel Raitano said the education board would put the construction contract on tender to secure a reputable construction company to build the school facilities.Raitano said the provincial education department expected construction to be completed in about six months to allow the teaching staff to settle in at the new high school. The following facilities are expected to be constructed in the first phase of preparation for the high school; five teachers' houses, two double classrooms, two student dormitories, two ablution blocks, one administration block and one science and home economics complex. Former headmaster of Kuare Primary Musa Kaiyamo welcomed the project by the provincial government and the education department.Kaiyamo, who is a local leader, said on behalf of the Kuare people they were happy that at last they would be able to send their children to a high school near them. It had been the practice that Grade 8 students from Kuare continue to Grade 9 at Pangia, Erave and Kagua high schools – depending on availability of spaces. The Kuare LLG which has a population of more than 20,000 had been without a high school, although it had sufficient number of feeder schools. "Mipela hamamas olsem hai skul bai stap long Kuare na ol pikinini bai skul (We are happy that Kuare will have a high school and our children do not have to go to other high schools," Kaiyamo said. End of article Koare Road - By Nick Naimon Hi All,
Thanks to Thompson and Edwin for proposing the idea of building roads with Plastic Material. However, I am unreservedly in confusion as it would be first of its kind to construct our road with newly introduced plastic material. Should you twos explain further on how we gonna construct the road, and who is going to finance this?..Anyway, I don’t want you guys to further be driven by this impracticable perception but the idea behind the discussion is to seek for some Donor agencies who might want to help our people to maintain our road from Ita to Koare. I just drove the muddy road last week during my break and indeed couldn’t sleep well the night after. ” That’s where I was born, and where I will be buried “ was the lyrics of a song flicked into my mind as the tempo of the engine roared through the muddy. The road has gone from bad to worse and no one person from Kuare has taken the initiative to maintain it. The only PMV owners, can’t do very much as they only patch some areas where vehicles get bogged up. The more we wait for our MP or other politicians, the more we see our roads deteriorate and sooner or later we all will leave all vehicles at Tindua or Ita and carry our cargos to get back to our villages. I think, Road is indeed a very vital need for our people. The other tangible developments will fall in line if we have better road system. Joel Raitano has done is part in developing Kuare and just recently announced the 3 Million Project for High School. I just heard that, all our people back at home would start fixing the road before the materials be delivered to Kuare. If there is really a neeed for Dynah, then I suggest the 3million can be utilised for purchasing or hiring 4x4 Dynah for the road. John, can you talk to Joel Raitano on behalf of this organization regarding this and also put up notice on the website as advised by Brian?. Also, consult David Wereh on the statues of ADB Project. Many thanks to you, John and Awel for creating Koare Konda website to discuss and contribute ideas as to how we gonna bring in services back in Kuare. We can’t fold our hands waiting for politicians too long, it is time the intellectuals of Kuare as to stand united, leaving political differences behind and discuss as to how we can change Kuare. Thanks Nick Never Give Up by John Rombo, Dubai, Middle East Dear Koare Konda Folks,
"Giving up" in anything that we think of doing is a failure in itself, fueled by the inner self. It just shows how weak your inner self is in terms of adopting to challenges in life. Infact the more challenges you face in your life's journey, the more knowledgeable and adept you become. Your minset, ways of perceiving the social world changes as well. It gives you more edge for you to think harder. You don't have to be super intelligent at first to make the move and see minute changes in your functional ability. You just need to have the urge to try harder, work harder and see if you can succeed through change. However, sometimes you do not realise the subtle changes that take effect in yourself. Small things matter alot and do count in life in order for you to achieve bigger and wider things. When one flauts, it's simply because of not seeing that same thing from different angles and perspectives. It is the inner self that must be determined to stand against the odds, thunder, tide, waves and wind into order to see change and achievement. That self is you and only yourself. I did go through so much struggles in my journey in life, I still am, but one thing that keeps me moving forward rather than resorting to lagging is my inner self. I am still struggling for ends meet. But when I reflect on my individual journey, I have failed more things than what I have achieved. As the saying goes; "EVERYBODY IS SOMEBODY". That means do not put yourself down, you do have so much inner unexplored world and system that can make enormous difference in your life as well as for others. You are somebody in the eyes of supreme God and yourself. You are somebody in the eyes of your own family, you children, you wife, your brothers and sisters. This is simply because they view you as the becon of their survival and success. Without you they see them being 100 miles away to reach where you are, or they might not even make it to the football field, which gives them certain degree of hope for their own success. That means, Koare Konda folks, you are somebody in the eyes of your own family, community and villages. Do not be fooled when someon, may be of higher social standing puts you down or uses some form of derogatory words against you. Do not back off, though that may be an insult and quite embarassing, it is another form of inner strength and challenge for you to grow deeper and wider. Once in my life I was told the following words by a Koarean youngster out of his own greed and frustration and expressed on me; "YU TISA NATIN". All these years I have put on record this gentle man's words. It went right into myself, which eventually turned into particles of accolade, turned into particles of facing the truth and reality and dance to the song and beat of the music, turned into particles of change. Those were my inner strengths, buidling on from my experiences in life, I have also accepted good advise which I thought were useful and binding. On the journey I discarded what I considered to be particles of failure and doom. Life is not easy. It is hard, and is a journey still to this day. So folks do no faulter, do not whither, rather see challenges as opportunities and think positive and face the truth and work hard. That's your vehicle to take you to paradise. Find below are some prominent people in the world who were considered to be failures but through sheer hardwork, combined with their development in intelligence, they succeed in their individual achievements and life. Let's have a look at those examples now; "Colonel Sanders had the construction of a new road put him out of business in 1967. He went to over 1,000 places trying to sell his chicken recipe before he found a buyer interested in his 11 herbs and spices. Seven years later, at the age of 75, Colonel Sanders sold his fried chicken company for a finger-lickin' $15 million!" Yes, you can! Never give up believing in yourself. Whenever you doubt yourself, remember the many amazing stories below of failure being turned into major success by amazing people we all know and respect. Every one of us can make a big difference if we only choose to believe in ourselves and never give up. Please help to spread these inspiring stories to all you know so that both individually and collectively we might more fully live our awesome potential. And you have a great day! Inspirational Stories Remind Us to Never Give Up Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he finally succeeded. Beethoven handled the violin awkwardly and preferred playing his own compositions instead of improving his technique. His teacher called him hopeless as a composer. Colonel Sanders had the construction of a new road put him out of business in 1967. He went to over 1,000 places trying to sell his chicken recipe before he found a buyer interested in his 11 herbs and spices. Seven years later, at the age of 75, Colonel Sanders sold his fried chicken company for a finger-lickin' $15 million! Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas. Disney also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland. Charles Darwin, father of the theory of evolution, gave up a medical career and was told by his father, "You care for nothing but shooting, dogs, and rat catching." In his autobiography, Darwin wrote, "I was considered by my father, a very ordinary boy, rather below the common standard in intellect. Albert Einstein did not speak until he was four years old and didn't read until he was seven. His teacher described him as "mentally slow, unsociable and adrift forever in his foolish dreams." He was expelled and refused admittance to Zurich Polytechnic School. The University of Bern turned down his Ph.D. dissertation as being irrelevant and fanciful. The movie Star Wars was rejected by every movie studio in Hollywood before 20th-Century Fox finally produced it. It went on to be one of the largest grossing movies in film history. Louis Pasteur was only a mediocre pupil in undergraduate studies and ranked 15 out of 22 in chemistry. When NFL running back Herschel Walker was in junior high school, he wanted to play football, but the coach told him he was too small. He advised young Herschel to go out for track instead. Never one to give up, he ignored the coach's advice and began an intensive training program to build himself up. Only a few years later, Herschel Walker won the Heisman trophy. When General Douglas MacArthur applied for admission to West Point, he was turned down, not once but twice. But he tried a third time, was accepted and marched into the history books. After Fred Astaire's first screen test, the memo from the testing director of MGM, dated 1933, said, "Can't act! Slightly bald! Can dance a little!" Astaire kept that memo over the fireplace in his Beverly Hills home. The father of the sculptor Rodin [The Thinker Statue] said, "I have an idiot for a son." Described as the worst pupil in the school, Rodin failed three times to secure admittance to the school of art. His uncle called him uneducable. Babe Ruth, considered by sports historians to be the greatest athlete of all time and famous for setting the home run record, also holds the record for strikeouts. Eighteen publishers turned down Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull, before Macmillan finally published it in 1970. By 1975 it had sold more than seven million copies in the U.S. alone. Margaret Mitchell's classic Gone with the Wind was turned down by more than twenty-five publishers. Richard Hooker worked for seven years on his humorous war novel, M*A*S*H, only to have it rejected by 21 publishers before Morrow decided to publish it. It became a runaway bestseller, spawning a blockbusting movie and highly successful television series. When the first Chicken Soup for the Soul book was completed, it was turned down by thirty-three publishers in New York and another ninety at the American Booksellers Association convention in Anaheim, California, before Health Communications, Inc., finally agreed to publish it. The major New York publishers said, "It is too nicey-nice" and "Nobody wants to read a book of short little stories." Since that time more than 8 million copies of the original Chicken Soup for the Soul book have been sold. The series, which has grown to thirty-two titles, in thirty-one languages, has sold more than 53 million copies. In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis Presley after one performance. He told Presley, "You ain't goin' nowhere… son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck." Elvis Presley went on to become the most popular singer in America. Dr. Seuss' first children's book, And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street, was rejected by twenty-seven publishers. The twenty-eighth publisher, Vanguard press, sold six million copies of the book. Never give up believing in yourself!!! from A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark V. Hansen |