‘Pilai Long Senis’ Delivers a Two-Week Program in Highlands & Morobe

More than 1,200 participants in Western Highlands, Jiwaka and Morobe have completed AFL PNG’s ‘Pilai Long Senis’ program promoting gender equality and leadership skills through sports.

The two-week program forms part of AFL PNG Development and PNG Tribal Foundation’s partnership, which has been in place since 2018. The partnership aims to address gender equality, respect, leadership and healthy lifestyles through sports-based education.

Program Coordinator Jill Ravusiro of AFL PNG said phases 1 and 2 were carried out at Kukumind village, Mt. Giluwe High School in Tambul-Nebilyer, Togoba Secondary and Minimp Primary Schools in Mount Hagen District in Western Highlands.

The team also visited the Galmana village in North Waghi, Jiwaka, before traveling down to Morobe to carry out the program in Salamanda, Bumayong Lutheran Secondary School in Lae and the Wanaf Community in Markham.

“The program ran for two weeks, covering phases 1 & 2. There were key challenges also addressed by the students from the visited locations, which included peer pressure, gender-based discrimination and lack of access to a safe space,” Ravusiro said.

“The key message was to show respect for women and girls, standing against violence, teamwork, inclusion, and positive decision-making. These highlighted areas need more awareness and support.”

Ravusiro said the program would not be possible without the support of TeamUp through the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), our great partners at the PNG Tribal Foundation and Paradise Foods Limited.

“There are many social issues in PNG and two of the major ones are gender-based violence and health. Together, AFLPNG Development and the PNG Tribal Foundation are tackling these issues through the Pilai Long Senis program,” she added. 

“By harnessing the power of sports to bring people together, we feel that we can provide a positive approach to tackling both gender-based violence and health issues to make a meaningful difference within many communities across the country.”

Meanwhile, following the conclusion of this program, the PNG Tribal Foundation Lead said there was a strong need to expand this program into various parts of the provinces.

“There are still many communities that would greatly benefit from the Pilai Long Senis Program. Even within the provinces we have already visited, there are plenty of communities and schools that have no exposure to sports for development programs like the PLS program. Some communities and schools have also reached out to us but due to a range of factors, we couldn't deliver the program to them,” Ravusiro said.

The Pilai Long Senis has so far reached seven provinces, including NCD, Central, Morobe, West New Britain, Western Highlands and Jiwaka.

“Expanding our reach to these other locations will ensure a broader and more inclusive impact,” she stated. 

“These students and community members should be agents of change in their respective communities and should do whatever they can in their own capacities to address issues around GBV and other forms of violence.”