Project Compassion 2003: Bougainville

Sydney
23 March 2003

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Bougainville - after the war is over

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Project Compassion 2003: Bougainville - after the war is over

Jennifer (pictured) is a student from Bougainville, which is situated in the Solomon Sea between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

It has a population of about 160,000 people. Its main industries are mining, timber, fishing and agriculture.

Jennifer is in fifth grade at Bairima Community School in the central district of Bougainville, in the North Solomons Province of Papua New Guinea.

Bougainville experienced a devastating civil war between 1989 and 1998 that claimed up to 20,000 lives and destroyed much of the island’s infrastructure.

This civil war originated from a compensation claim made by landowners against the owners of the Panguna Copper Mine; it eventually engulfed the entire island.

Thousands of Bougainvilleans were forced to flee their homes and formal schooling ceased as the civil war escalated.

Formal education stopped so most school age students went without education during those difficult years, resulting in a whole generation of children being deprived of education. This has caused substantial social and economic loss throughout the island.

Jennifer’s school, Bairima Community School, was burnt to the ground during the conflict.

In 1998, after the ceasefire had been signed, Caritas Australia was one of the first non-government organisations to initiate a rehabilitation program in Bougainville.

This focused on providing education, health, reconciliation and trauma counselling.

Caritas Australia helped Jennifer’s school build a framework for construction of a double classroom. The community provided the wood for the walls, and the labour.

There are now 92 students enrolled at the school. Some Grade Five students are aged up to 23 years, making up for the lost opportunities during the crisis.

Like parents all around the world, those in Bougainville know the value of education and are willing to make sacrifices to send their children to school.

Sometimes, they cannot afford to send all their children to school. It is a hard decision for them to have to choose which of their children should get an education and who should miss out.

Head teacher Aloysius Marius said: “The students are very keen. They suffered a lot during thecrisis and they see this as a chance to help themselves.”

Apart from building materials and sporting equipment, Caritas Australia has been one of the main providers of curriculum materials to many schools around the island.

Jennifer is not sure what she wants to be when she finishes school.

At the moment she is helping her family with their daily chores and studying hard to learn as much as she can.

After years of fighting there is a great deal of work to be done to restore Bougainville and provide a future for its people.

Through your donation to Project Compassion, Caritas Australia will be able to continue to assist the people of Bougainville in the quest to rebuild their lives.