By the Rivers of Balimo

 Balimo may be way out west of Port of Moresby, but it is a beautiful part of the country. It is blessed with so much water around it. Lakes, lagoons, and water ways make the mesmerizing landscapes picturesque. Balimo may be small and remote but the water lilies on the lakes and lagoons hides the secret of the people deep beneath the surface of the water.

White egrets and other birds of the lakes watch over the marshes, water ways and lagoons of Balimo. Awaba, Pisi, Kawito, Kotale, Kewa, Uladu are reached via the Aramia River. Awaba has an active airstrip used often by MAF/SDP for delivery of educational and medical support services and supplies. 

 

Balimo is in the Middle Fly area of the Western Province. Home to the long Gogodola canoes, and is the township governed by the Balimo Urban LLG has its share of development dilemma. Other Middle Fly districts are Nomad Rural LLG, Lake Murray Rural LLG, and Bamu Rural LLG. 

 

Economic activity is minimal, concentrated around the market and the Asian shops, which also mark the township of Balimo. Every  morning the township comes alive the fishermen come ashore to join the sago sellers to feed the people very early. Most vehicles in town belonged to the PNG Sustainable Develop Program or SDP for short. SDP  does a lot of other things to promote social and economic development in the Western Province.

 

Working quietly on a sustainable footprint in the Western Province SDP has exerted its presence here. In Balimo it is obvious the focus is on health and education. It has invested a lot in improving health services and ensuring every one receives medical assistance. In the education sector it is investing in FODE,  Balimo College, which has produced exciting results. 

 

The Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF) manages the education component of SDP: FODE, E-Learning, and Balimo Teachers College. Immediate results of this arrangement has seen an increased  enrolment in FODE, the Balimo Teachers College up and running full steam for the first year, and schools benefiting from relevant books supplied and primary school teachers getting help from subject specialists from the University of Papua New Guinea.  

 

SDP online information says the development agenda is that it is a long term investment in the livelihood of the people. In health sector SDP is working to support the stretched health system in Western Province: The “Aerial Health Patrols fly medical teams into remote communities where they deliver primary health care (vaccinations, WASH programs, family planning, outpatient clinics) and they stay on the ground for 3 or 4 days and make repeat visits every 6 weeks.” 

SDP supports the Balimo Hospital and River Health Patrols. SDP “funds organisations such as Marie Stopes (family planning); World Vision (WASH); and RAM (malaria management) to deliver their services in Western Province.” SDP is also investing in “infrastructure to provide clean water (filtration systems for Daru bores and a pipeline from the Kiunga water treatment plant to Sare village in Ward 5).  SDP Is also “investing in improved connectivity for health centres (satellite dish & solar power)..

 

Equally priority is also given to the development of education in the province. SDP believes education is the pathway to a brighter future. SDP has invested “ in school infrastructure (40 new classrooms; staff housing; and dormitories for boarders)” in Balimo. Another part of this investment to provide School project fees for schools to undertake worthwhile improvements.” 

 

As exciting as it seems, SDP introduced “a modern e-learning initiative through the upgraded telecommunications network (tablets and TV screens in the classrooms; specialist teacher training in the use of this modern technology).”

 

And it’s true, the rural township of Balimo is dry, dusty, and simple but this is a distraction from what is really happening on the ground. Balimo will rise out of anonymity to one in which everyone wants to talk about. I sure hope this will happen soon. The majestic beauty of the Gogodola canoes will be out on the lagoon and the music in the Gogodola Long Haus will serenade the winds of change sounds. 

 

 Balimo is really in a bubble of development. It is at a threshold of a new beginning. It will soon catch the wind of change that will lift the veil of innocence off, and reveal the face of joy and exuberance. It will swept through this quiet town and leave no leaf unturned.  

 

I came here to promote reading and writing among Balimo Teacher’s College and FODE students. It was also an ideal opportunity to talk about my children’s books to the young children in primary schools Duwaba and Isago. I accepted the invitation of Kokoda Track Foundation to speak about writing books, reading as a habit, and to talk about finding their dreams through the pathways created in education.. 

 

I could not help think how vulnerable these humble lake communities are. A sense of disturbed air filled Duwaba in the time we were there. The activities at the waterfront centred on marketing of betel nuts, cigarettes, cakes, coconuts and other market goods. Duwaba is allowed to emerge as an important subcentre to Balimo.

 

The beautiful smiles of the children at Isago are infectious. Visitors are welcomed with rosy periwinkles, warm the hearts and beautiful smiles just like the waterlilies of the lagoons.

 

I pen off with these thoughts: It’s going to be a long road to modernity for the Gogodola people. They need our helping hand as they make this journey. As the song goes, “He aint heavy. He is my brother.” Let’s shoulder the burden together. It’s a long long road.