Teenager thanks Life PNG Care for support

Teenager Tania Kalop is grateful for the support provided by Life PNG Care (LPNGC) towards her education.

LPNGC is based at Gerehu in Port Moresby and helps to keep disadvantaged and vulnerable children away from the streets and in school under its LPNGC’s ‘Strongim Pikinini Education Program (SPEP).

The 19-year-old from a mix parentage of West New Britain and Enga Province was taken in by LPNGC when she was 16 years old.

At a young age, Tania’s mother struggled while raising her after her father died.

She was identified by her community in Kimbe and flown over to Port Moresby by LPNGC in 2013 and is now in Grade 12 at Marianville Secondary School.

“I am privileged to live under LPNGC and I thank them for giving me a home and supporting me in my education.

“Because of their support I am able to attend school as they provide me with bus fare and school stationary and even my lunch money,” Tania said.

Tania is among 75 street kids that SPEP has helped this year to enroll in three secondary and 10 primary schools in the National Capital District.

The kids range from as young as 6 to 19 years old and come from different types of backgrounds and include orphans and neglected or abandon children.

Tania is one of 22 children living in the home of LPNGC founder and director Collin Pake

“I have learnt so much and LPNGC has helped me spiritually as well as providing good counseling to help us get through life as we don’t live with our biological parents.

“There are a lot of us and sometimes it’s hard to cooperate with each other as we all come from different backgrounds but we manage to live as a family.

“We always work together and as the eldest child I take the lead in talking to them and giving the little ones advice as well,” she said.

She explained that LPNGC is like their home and Pake and his wife Freda have always been like parents.

Tania aims to study to become a journalist in the future after she graduates from secondary school.

Author: 
Quintina Naime