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We were hit by a wave of nostalgia today as we reminisced about our CFK VBA training sessions on this day 2018. It is amazing to see how these targeted strategies have had a profound ongoing impact on our VBAs, which has helped them achieve stellar results. We want to extend a huge shout-out to everyone who was involved in making those training sessions a success. It’s incredible how this training can have such a positive impact for all Kiriwinans.!!!!

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our amazing sponsors and donors for their generous contributions. Your selflessness and kindness are making a true difference in the world.

Eight boxes filled with your donations have been sent to Kiriwina to support those in need. The birthing and dignity kits, pencils and sharpeners for the schools, signage for the new CFK office in the LHC, knitted and sewn baby items, birthing record books, and more are finally on their way to Kiriwina. By donating, you’re providing vital support to those in need, and helping to improve lives. We appreciate your support and encourage you to join us in our efforts to make a positive impact on the world. Thank you! 👏💖

#team, #management, #people, #caringforkiriwina, #cleanwater, #villagelife, #villagebirthattendants, #kiriwina, #trobriandislands, #papuanewguinea, #mothers, #mothersandbabies, #babies, #safebirths, #covid, #villagebirthattendants, #midwives, #education, #schools, #health, #charity, #birthingtraining, #foodsecurity, #foodsecurityprogram, #cleanwater.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Nicole, a generous P&O passenger, for reaching out to our charity devoted to improving the lives of the Kiriwinan people. Below are some photos from her trip that deeply touched her heart.

Additionally, we have a question for P&O that has been emailed directly to them and we are awaiting a reply.

Delivery of our life-saving donations to Kiriwina has become more difficult since flights to the area have been suspended. We are now forced to take extreme measures to ensure our birthing and dignity kits reach their intended recipients, resulting in delays, added expenses, and uncertainty. We have been requesting support from P&O Cruises for over 11 years, as they visit Kiriwina eight times a year and can transport a few boxes of these essential items during their trips. Despite their claims of supporting other charities on the island, the recent surge in births on Kiriwina – with 20,000 more people than four years ago – means that many more birthing kits are needed. We work closely with the Islanders, the Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority, and the Education Department to provide our programs and donations. We urge P&O to reconsider their refusal to assist in delivering these vital supplies to Kiriwinan women during their cruise ship visits. P&O needs to contribute to the community’s wellbeing.”

#pandocruises, #caringforkiriwina, #CFKTeam, #birthingkits, #charity, #mothersandbabies, #health

Here are photos from our in-country manager, Toks Bwaina’s, most recent trip to Kiriwina last week. The purpose of the trip was not only to check on the status of the food security program but all our programs, including the water pumps for the clean drinking water project. He meet the VBA’s and deliver the birthing kits, lanterns, uniforms, medicines etc to them and the to the Losuia Health Volunteer. Toks also delivered more dignity kits to the Kiriwina High School.

Thank you to all our wonderful donors and sponsors… more help is needed to fix our water pumps; many are requiring parts and labour :(.

#kiriwina, #safebirths, #mothersandbabies, #cleanwater, #villagelife, #people, #healthybaby, #babies, #strongbabies, #villagebirthattendants, #caringforkiriwina, #papuanewguinea, #mothers, #midwives, #schools, #health, #education, #cfkteam, #png, #australiapngPartnership, #heath, #midwifetraining, #training, #schoolequipment, #CaringforKiriwina#revdrralphlawton, #strongwomenstrongbabies, #pharmacyselect, #medicines, #charity, #uniforms, #lighting, #lamps, #lanterns, #losuiasecondaryschool, #cfkvillagebirthattendants

It is a joy that we can be a part of Margaret ‘s vision to improve the lives of the people of Kiriwina. We value our connection to this work which is life-giving and enriching in providing access to healthy birthing, addressing food security and clean water, and supporting the education of students in a very remote part of our world.

The Convenor of the Yarralumla Uniting Church Arts and Crafts Committee, Lynne Thomson.

Our eternal gratitude goes out to the Yarralumla Church congregation for their ongoing support for the Rev Dr Ralph and Margaret Lawton‘s life’s work and legacy.

Kamatokisi!

Featured photo: Yarralumla Uniting Church delegation photographed with members of the Lawton family and a film crew from New Zealand Bible Society on our 2012 trip to Kiriwina for the Kiriwinan bible dedication.

The subsequent film of the 2012 Kiriwina Bible dedication can be seen at the following link: https://caringforkiriwina.org.au/about/rev-dr-ralph-lawton-and-margaret-lawtons-translation-work/

#caringforkiriwina, #yarralumlachurch, #yarralumlachurchartsandcraftscommittee, #artsandcraftscommittee, #canberra, #act, #nsw, #queensland, #charity, #benevolnetsociety, #team, #management, #people, #cleanwater, #drinkingwater, #villagelife, #villagebirthattendants, #kiriwina, #trobriandislands, #papuanewguinea, #mothers, #mothersandbabies, #babies, #safebirths, #covid, #villagebirthattendants, #midwives, #belroseknitters, #education, #schools, #health, #charity, #stswithuns, #education, #schooleducation.

The Strength of a Mother
A mother’s strength is like no other,
Through every hardship and every bother,
She keeps us strong and keeps us whole,
With love and care that never grows old.
by R.M. Drake

#kiriwina, #safebirths, #mothersandbabies, #cleanwater, #villagelife, #people, #healthybaby, #babies, #strongbabies, #villagebirthattendants, #caringforkiriwina, #papuanewguinea,  #mothers , #midwives, # schools, #health,  #education,  #cfkteam,  #png , #australiapngPartnership , #healthcarecrisis , #midwifetraining, #training, #schoolequipment, #CaringforKiriwina, #HappyMothersDay, #MothersDay

We celebrate all midwives worldwide with a special thank you to our CFK educators and VBAs for their outstanding achievements over the past ten years. Here is a speech and photos from our LAWTON day reporting trip to Kiriwina held during the last two weeks of April.

Now the VBAs have been following the education now women are recognised, especially the VBAs. Women are counted now. A great legacy.

CFK head VBA Ruth Boaz speaks about Margaret’s legacy

Video: CFK Head VBA Ruth Boaz praises Margaret Lawton’s legacy

Video 2: CFK VBAs sing a thank you song to the CFK midwife educators Shea Caplice and Jacqui Andrews.

Thank you from us…

Smiles all around at the distribution of donations by the VBA’s 1.1.2023.

Thanks to all our sponsors/donors, Australia post and the mammoth efforts of our in-country manager, our donations finally arrived on Kiriwina for distribution. Yay!

#cfkteam, #management, #people, #fixkiriwinaairstrip, #caringforkiriwina, #cleanwater, #villagelife, #villagebirthattendants, #kiriwina, #trobriandislands, #papuanewguinea, #mothers, #mothersandbabies, #babies, #safebirths, #covid, #villagebirthattendants, #midwives, #belroseknitters, #education, #schools, #health, #charity, #drrevralphlawton, #birthingtraining

Photo of the CFK VBA’s, excited to receive their donations on the first day of 2023 :).

Here are excerpts from the letter we sent to our newly appointed Foreign Minister over the weekend. Let’s get this quality aid intervention reinstated as a priority!!!

In 2018 CFK received an Australian Government Friendship Grant which funded our delivery of several midwifery education sessions on Kiriwina for the local VBAs. This was undertaken by two wonderful midwife educators from the Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick NSW (for details see this link: https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/nsw_-_caring_for_kiriwina.png.) Our experience and feedback from these short and intensive sessions highlighted the importance of ongoing training and education for the VBA volunteers whose work in the community is literally lifesaving.

Unfortunately, COVID put a hold on the Friendship Grants and therefore the continuing of these in-country training activities over the last few years. While CFK continues its core commitment to the Kiriwina people, we are extremely aware of the critical need of trained and educated personnel overseeing midwifery and birthing support both at the local Health Clinic and in the community.

We ask if DFAT is proposing to reinstate the Friendship Grants scheme. It was an excellent mechanism for providing important aid to our closest neighbour, amongst others. Small and focused charities such as ours are well placed to provide quality overseas aid at a grass roots level to vulnerable communities, and the reinstatement of such a scheme would greatly improve the health and well being of some of our poorest neighbours, not to mention be a great thing for our countries as well.

Yours sincerely etc

Header image source: China-Solomons deal: US, Australia to boost PNG ties (smh.com.au)

#auspng, #laborgovernment, #senatorpennywong, #friendshipgrants, #dfatfriendshipgrants, #CaringforKiriwina, #birthingkits, #AustralianAid#AusSDGs @AusHumanitarian, #caringforkiriwinavbas, #safebirths, #dignitykits, #team, #management, #people, #caringforkiriwina, #cleanwater, #villagelife, #villagebirthattendants, #kiriwina, #trobriandislands, #papuanewguinea, #mothers, #mothersandbabies, #babies, #safebirths, #australiapngpartnership