K500,000 for community grants

Digicel PNG Foundation has announced the formal launch of its Leadership for Change: Community Grants Program.

This financial year, half a million kina (K500,000) has been made available to support local organisations in Papua New Guinea with their community projects.

 

Patron of Digicel Foundation and Chairman of Digicel Group, Denis O’Brien, made the formal announcement during a launch ceremony recently in Port Moresby.

 

“In 2007 when Digicel PNG launched its voice network, we wanted to make sure we were a different type of multi-national company by ensuring we were doing the right thing by the people of Papua New Guinea so in 2008, Digicel PNG Foundation was established,” said O’Brien.

“We have a firm commitment to ensure that as our company grows, so too must the communities that we operate in. In the last ten years, Digicel PNG Foundation’s tangible impact has been felt around the country through health and education projects and the establishment of the Men of Honour campaign to combat growing rates of violence in PNG. The way forward now is to consolidate the work done to date by harnessing the power of our existing partnerships to create a world where no one gets left behind.”

CEO for the Digicel PNG Foundation, Serena Sasingian, said: “The Foundation is cognizant of the fact that in order for projects to be sustainable, community ownership is critical and therefore we are now working in ways to champion local partnerships for sustainable change.

“The Foundation aims to build a network of organisations that are working on the front line in their communities to address health, education, social inclusion, sustainable livelihoods and community safety. We will learn lessons from our partners on the change we are collectively creating and working towards strengthening governance systems in these organisations.”

Long term partners of Digicel Foundation, WeCARe and Cheshire Disability Services, were among the organisations present to witness the launch alongside members of the Board and Staff of Digicel PNG Foundation.

Josephine Dromenge of WeCARe stated that the grants they had received from the Foundation have assisted WeCare to continue to support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Port Moresby and they welcome Digicel Foundation’s ongoing support.

Application forms and funding guidelines for the grants program can be obtained from Digicel PNG Foundation by contacting the program team on digicelpngfoundation@digicelgroup.com or 72222601.

Established in October 2008, Digicel PNG Foundation has directly invested K83 million in rural remote and socially marginalised communities across all 22 provinces directly impacting over 863,000 beneficiaries.

[Partners of Digicel PNG Foundation working together to create a world where no one gets left behind (back row L-R): Andy Xuhaijian – Account Director Huawei, Lazarus Towa - MOH Ambassador, Larry Opa - NABS Building, Colin Stone - CEO Digicel PNG, Jean-Yves Charlier - Group CEO Digicel, Bernadette Ove - Principal Jubilee Secondary, Josephine Dromenge & Fr John Glynn - WeCARe!, Tiri Kuimbakul - MOH Ambassador, Serena Sasingian - CEO Digicel PNG Foundation, Keith Killian - Production Manager PNG LNG, Exxon Mobil, Denis O’Brien - Patron Digicel Foundation & Chairman Digicel Group. (Front Row L-R): Leo La’a, Isabelle Kila and Jade La’a (Beneficiaries of the Community Based Rehabilitation Program]

Author: 
Press release