17 Men of Honour recognised

Seventeen ordinary men, doing extraordinary things, were recognised at the Men of Honour Awards Gala Dinner.

Chief Executive Officer Beatrice Mahuru said the Men of Honour Awards is a campaign against violence, designed to recognise the efforts of men who are bringing positive change to their communities and in turn, fostering peace and promoting prosperity.

“I want to firstly thank the people who have recognised men within their own communities who are making a difference for the better. These men, despite their challenges, have invested their efforts to be a change agent in their communities, through education, sports, entrepreneurship and leadership,” Mahuru said.

“They are carving out a ‘path in rocky fields’ because they understand that change begins with them.”

Mahuru revealed that each of their stories was compelling and it was heart-warming to see that these Men of Honour are the change we all seek in our communities for a better, safer Papua New Guinea. She said through this campaign, Digicel PNG Foundation is forming a brotherhood of men, an advocacy network of mentors for the present and next generation.

2016/17 Men of Honour Patron, Dame Carol Kidu, said the Men of Honour Campaign was such an important one.

“Nobody before this has recognised men who do great things, who are men of courage,” said the Patron of the Digicel Foundation Men of Honour Awards.  

She acknowledges that there are men who display poor behaviour and negative attitude but we are seeing a cadre of men whose actions and reactions show other men that there is a better. The MoH award recognises this, and in the roles the finalists play as a Men of Honour ambassadors, they mediate, mentor, guide and inspire other men to sustainably addressing violence.

Dame Carol said these are the men whose stories resonate with others to change the narrative for a safer community.

Voi Puana from Maopa, Aroma in the Central Province, was awarded the overall Digicel Foundation Men of Honour Award. As an Educationist, he also won the Ela Motors Education Champion Category.

Another teacher, Suve Haro of Sabama in NCD, had come in 1st runner up while education enthusiast Japheth Nicodemus of Menyamya, Morobe Province, was the 2nd runner up.

TVWan Sports Mentor Award finalists were basketball champion Moi Muri of Kaugere, who took out the award for the category, rugby league coach and manager, Brown Murema, of Sabama, who was first runner up while policeman cum rugby coach, Howard Ehava, of Malalaua in the Gulf Province, came in as second runner-up.

For the Atlas Community Ingenuity Award, two male nurses came head to head. Raymond Singamis of Baktamin Village, in rural Star Mountains of Western Province, was awarded winner while Albert Kugal of Tari, Hela Province, came in second.

Ronald Kombo from Numbo in Yangoru, East Sepik Province, who was runner up, complemented Motu Koitabuan winner, Rabura Aiga, for his work with youth in NCD’s urban settlements, in the Hertz Leasemaster Community Entrepreneur Award Category. Both worked closely with youths and around capacity building.

Digicel Community Leadership award saw Hela’s Prince of Peace James Tandupe win over Port Moresby based policeman Anthony Guken and peace officer Pidiwin Kabua of Gabagaba Village, Central Province, who came in 1st and second runner-up respectively.

For the two new categories, the Young Men of Honour Category saw two strong charactered finalists, Dagia Aka of Port Moresby and David Aoneka Rupa from Pelagai, Aroma Coast of Central Province. 

The legacies of the Late William Arua Rarua of Hanuabada Village and the Late Mugang Biteng were honoured as family members witnessed with pride. The ExxonMobil sponsored Allen Mahuru Posthumous Service Award went to the late Biteng, who left the familiarity of his home and people in Morobe to deliver missionary work in Jiwaka. The children of the awardees were invited to accept the award in honour of their legacy.

Over 1000 people with special needs, together with their families and communities, have been impacted positively by the community-based rehabilitation program; and the Men of Honour Awards – a campaign against violence in PNG, is the latest to the Foundation’s development portfolio. So far, we have 17 winners, 47 finalists and 256 nominations. Digicel PNG Foundation appreciates that change is not going to happen overnight, but it will happen.

Established in October 2008, Digicel PNG Foundation has directly invested K55 million in PNG’s rural, remote and socially marginalised communities across all 22 provinces directly impacting over 500,000 people.

Picture: Foundation CEO Beatrice Mahuru with patron Dame Carol Kidu and Community Entrepreneur Category Sponsor, Ronald Seddon.

 

Author: 
Press release