More than 2, 000 people joined the campaign against violence by participating in a recent workshop at Bundi in Madang Province.
Participants came from all over the rural Bundi area including Usino and Chimbu Province.
The workshop was organised by Vincent Kumura, who does community work and was awarded the 2016 Digicel PNG Foundation Men of Honour Community Ingenuity Award.
The workshop was aimed at building a better, progressive and violent free Bundi with the theme “Yes We Can! Building a better, progressive and violent free Bundi tomorrow”.
Violence and lawlessness were norms for Bundi over the last decade which Kumura believes are results of the Marengo Mining exploration boom.
He explained earlier that youths are not prepared to manage themselves properly in the process of change therefore the communities are in dire in of positive change.
The weeklong activities included Community Services which involved community clean up, sports and presentations.
Presentation topics include "Characteristics of a Better Community" by David Maima from Goroka and “Better Community Building Exercise and Models of a Better Community” by Kumura.
There was also a workshops for mothers conducted by Monica Ibiam from Chimbu on how to arrange flowers, nutritious cooking, and making beds at home (health & hygiene ).
Health talks were on topics such as "Effects of Paia Wara or Home Brew" on the body resulting in violence and compensation burdens, and "The eye and causes of blindness" by the visiting eye specialist Francis Yasaking from Ramu Sugar.
A Candle Lighting Ceremony and Bond Fire also took place to mark a better, progressive and violent free Bundi with over 700 candles lit.