On 20 Friday January 2012, in Tari, Southern Highlands, the Hela Women’s Upstream Limited (UHWL), an economic and social organisation compromising of around 200 members launched their very own Western Star semi-trailer.
This truck is part of a consortium of ten trucks managed by Trans Wonderland Limited (TWL), a trucking firm established by resource owners to service Oil Search, the PNG LNG project, and other such transport needs.
This inspiring women’s group has proven that with perseverance to pursue a vision, even the seemingly impossible is achievable for women in resource rich Papua New Guinea.
Executive Director of UHWL group Veronica Payawi said the plight of Hela women was ignored in many of the PNG LNG agreements that were signed.
She said that even though the PNG LNG project was to happen in front of their homes, many of the village women would not see many benefits or participate in the project and its spin-offs. These benefits would go to the males.
She said the majority of Hela Women would still be selling garden food and ice blocks at the local market and be subject to abuse from drunks and market tax collectors.
The women decided to form the group to improve their social and economic status in the resource rich province.
“With the upcoming LNG Project, most of the Hela Women were ignored. Our silent pain was ignored.’
So we said, what can we do to help ourselves?”
The UHWL consists of 196 individual women and four other groups which include Church groups, youth groups and women group.
Despite forming the UHWL and showing their eagerness to participate in the spin-off opportunities from the development of the project, they met with little success when meeting with project developers and were also overlooked for the LNG Seed Capital (or
Business Grants for identified landowner groups in the PDL areas) of the Government despite meeting all the requirements.
‘We have knocked on many doors for an opportunity, but unfortunately not many were doors were opened.”
She said only TWL was interested in working with the women.
The company invited the women to be part of the consortium and purchase a truck to service the PNG LNG project. So the women began a fundraising campaign amongst themselves.
During May 1st to September 1st 2011, the women raised K200, 000 as seed capital for their investment in the TWL consortium.
With the company’s assistance, the women provided K150, 000 as seed capital and the truck, worth around K1 million in total costs, was purchased from TWL and transferred over to the UHWL on October 1st 2011. It has been working the project route from Lae to Southern Highlands and the Hela Region since.
On Friday, the women launched the truck with a stirring message.
“If you are a women of Komo – Magarami, Tari -Pori, Koroba – Kopaigo, this truck is your truck. Women have contributed hard cash for five months. We are able to achieve our dream on 1st October 2011.”
We want to make money, make profit at the same time improve the lives of the mothers and the children.”
During the launch, TWL Managing Director Larry Anadagali presented the women’s group with their first cheque of K58, 000 as net income minus operational and financial costs after two months of operation.
TWL has assisted the women with participation in this amazing opportunity as well as structuring and managing their loan repayments and the vehicle itself.
Tari-Pori MP and Chairman of the Hela Transitional Authority Hon James Marabe who was a special guest at the launch said the women have done by themselves what the government has been trying to do for many years.
He congratulated them on their vision and said such an initiative empowers women, boys and girls and whole communities.
He promised the UHWL women that the Hela Provincial Government, once it’s established in July, will support their activities.
Mr Marabe also asked them to extend their shareholder base to include many more women in the Hela Region.
He also applauded the efforts of the TWL Management and its Directors for supporting a local community achievement like this.
“You are leading the way without any Government support.”
Veronica Paiya said the group now has a few more plans to develop for the benefit of all women.
“Our vision is to be a vibrant and growing company that truly represents women and girls impacted by the PNG LNG Project and women of all Hela Region. For us to achieve this vision we want to partner with PNG LNG project developers such as Exxon Mobil,
Oil Search, TWL, PNG LNG, Hela Authority, PNG Government and others.
We want to work together with stakeholders to affect poverty, grow strong through business, make profits and improve the livelihoods of our women and girls.”
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