We are pleased to share that Caroleen is currently in Alotau, meeting with medical staff from the Milne Bay Health Authority, eagerly awaiting her boat ride to Kiriwina. In a collaborative effort, we have arranged for senior representatives from CFK VBAs (Village Birth Attendants)– Dulcie, Bessie and Dorcas – to gather to warmly welcome her in Alotau and assist her on her journey.
Thank you for your continued support as we work to make such vital connections possible! Stay tuned for more updates.
We are thrilled to introduce Sr. Caroleen Baine as our new VBA Coordinator. After an extensive search in collaboration with our partners at the Milne Bay Health Authority, we’re proud to say that we’ve found the perfect candidate. A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Perista Mamadi and Dr. Frank Dale for their invaluable support throughout this journey.
Sr. Caroleen is a registered midwife and educator with extensive experience working with remote communities throughout Papua New Guinea. She is relocating from Port Moresby to Kiriwina, and we would like to extend our gratitude to the following individuals: Mr. Aiden Abraham, the District Administrator; Mr. Luvakai Kasiviya; and Mr. Ridley Mwaisiga, for their assistance in arranging a lovely home for her.
Our VBA team is currently on a plane to Alotau and is preparing to sail with Caroleen back to Kiriwina. We are confident that she will be warmly received and experience the renowned hospitality of Kiriwina. We extend our best wishes for a smooth transition and a meaningful time in Kiriwina for everyone involved.
A huge thank you to all the incredible supporters of Caring for Kiriwina who helped make this dream a reality!
In the photo: Toks Bwaina, the Country Manager, along with CFK Directors Jodi Lawton and Vanessa Palfreeman, and CFK VBA midwife coordinator, Snr Caroleen Baine, were captured in Port Moresby last Friday, March 13th.
We have some exciting developments coming up that we look forward to sharing with you once we have final confirmations. Stay tuned for more details!
In the meantime, we’re thrilled to announce that our donations are en route to Kiriwina! A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful postman, Andy, along with the fantastic chemist and knitting communities that support our mission.
A special mention goes out to the incredible women at Willandra Retirement Village—Martha, Joy, Chrissy, Bea, Helen, and Ann—who have lovingly created beautiful knitwear. We are also thankful to the talented ladies from St. Swithun’s Church in Pymble for their amazing contributions. A big shoutout to John and Sandy for their generous delivery service, too!
We’d like to extend our appreciation to our new friends at the Milton Hospital Auxiliary for their knitting efforts and generous donations, including old bras. Additionally, a heartfelt thanks to the new Priceline Chemist at Balgowlah for continuing the support we received from Pharmacy Select Balgowlah.
Thank you all for your kindness and support! Together, we’re making a meaningful impact on the Women and children of Kiriwina.
We are filled with hope and gratitude for the incredible community that supports our mission to uplift women and children on the remote island of Kiriwina in PNG. This year, let’s continue to inspire change, promote health and well-being, enhance education, and provide essential resources for a brighter future. Together, we have the power to empower the hearts and minds of families in Kiriwina.
Here are some highlights from our in-country managers’ recent reporting trip to Kiriwina during the Christmas of 2025 and New Year of 2026. CFK presented our Village Birth Attendants (VBAs) with bags of rice to acknowledge their invaluable contributions to their communities, along with headlights to support their ongoing efforts.
As we step into a new year filled with compassion, growth, and unity, let’s remember that every effort we make counts! Wishing everyone a joyful and prosperous New Year! 🎉❤️
Luba Circuit VBA’sKilivia 1 circuit VBA’sKuboma Circuit VBA’sKilivila 2 circuit VBA’sSimla and Kaileuna Circuits VBA’sFellows Circuit VBA’sThe VBAs visited late Bokawau’s family during the New Year as a sign of remembrance, repect and gratitude for all her work.The late Bokawau’s grave site
As the holiday season draws near, all of us at Caring for Kiriwina want to extend our heartfelt wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year as we look toward 2026!
This joyous time of year serves as a wonderful reminder of the incredible support we receive from our community, which is essential to our mission. We are deeply thankful for our Kiriwinan community, our dedicated partners, generous sponsors, committed volunteers, and kind donors. Your contributions are the backbone of our efforts to help those in need and play a vital role in our achievements.
Looking back on the past year, we recognise that our successes are thanks to your unwavering support. Your dedication motivates us and brings us closer to reaching our aspirations. Together, we are making remarkable progress and paving the way for a brighter future for everyone.
Thank you for being an indispensable part of our journey. We are eager to face the new opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, and we look forward to continuing this important work alongside each of you.
Wishing you a joyful holiday season filled with love and warmth!
Last week, we had a productive meeting with our dedicated in-country team, including Tok, Bwaina, Vanessa (who unfortunately wasn’t in the photo), Dug, and me. Together, we reflected on our achievements and brainstormed new ideas for our 2026 initiatives.
We’re truly excited about what the future holds and deeply grateful to everyone whose support has made 2025 such a success. Thank you for being part of our journey!
We extend our deepest gratitude to Carnival Cruises Australia for the safe delivery of our vital donations that are truly life-saving for our community.
Special thanks to the amazing team at Carnival Cruise Line. Firstly, in Sydney, we are especially grateful to Lynne Scrivens, Communications Director, and Mira Kovacevic, Events Coordinator and all the Carrnival crew members who supported the safe arrival of the donations to the island including the Galyna Shynger, Guest Services Manager, pictured.
In the featured photo, you can also see our Caring for Kiriwina team hard at work, accepting the delivery. From left to right: Naison Mark – CFK Logistic Coordinator, Kiabola VBA, Dorcas Nusabu – Kavataria VBA, Galyna and the Carnival crew, Dulcie Toposona – Kavataria VBA, Bessie Sumai – Kavataria VBA, Namdoga Joseph – Molosaida VBA, and Tamlimai Ahab – Transport Organiser. These donations have safely arrived on the other side of the Island from where the ship docks, where all the health and government services and the CFK office are located.
Strong Women, Strong Babies 🥰
Together, we are making a difference! Thank you for your support! 💙✨
We’re excited to have you there! As you enjoy your time on the island, please remember to direct your donations exclusively to our official Carnival Cruises dispatch officer, Nason Mark, who will be waiting under the “Caring for Kiriwina” banner. To ensure your contributions are handled properly, kindly do not give donations to anyone else.
We hope you have a fantastic experience exploring all that Kiriwina has to offer!
Check out these photos of our staff who headed to Kiaboloa Beach early this morning to welcome you! Enjoy your day!).
A Heartfelt Thank You for Our Caring For Kiriwina Community!
We are thrilled to announce that more donations are ready to embark on their fabulous journey to Kiriwina aboard the Carnival cruise! 🌟
A huge thank you to our incredible donors and dedicated volunteers for your relentless support of our beautiful Kiriwinan mothers and babies, as well as our amazing VBA volunteers. Your hard work and passion have been instrumental in preparing these donations for the upcoming November cruise.
We are especially grateful to Carnival for their generosity in transporting 20 bags of these much-needed donations. Your support is making a tangible difference in the lives of those in our community!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous contributions! A special thanks to the extraordinary ladies at Willandra Retirement Village—Martha, Joy, Chrissy, Bea, Helen, and Ann—who crafted the beautiful knitwear and also the talented women from St Swithuns Church in Pymble for the hand-sewn dresses and knitted teddy bears. Additionally, we are thankful for the fabulous John and Sandy for the delivery service, and the magnificent Mary, and the lovely Lila and Duggie Wuggie Lawton for their support! :).
Let’s continue to spread love and kindness!
John (Sandy’s husband) with the some of the Willandra Retirement Village DonationsBags of 200 VFK Birthing Kits and condomsOur CFK Village and our besties, the lovely Lila and Duggie Wuggie Lawton and the Magnificent Mary Jommundsen, packing kits on Saturday 🤩👏🥰
We are excited to announce that our recent birthing kit packing event was a wonderful success! With immense support from our community of packers, including Anne, Lisa, Belinda, Tara, Abbas and Mark, we managed to assemble 300 essential birthing kits for the upcoming Carnival cruise in November. Our goal is to send as many birthing and dignity kits to Kiriwina as we can, and every contribution plays a crucial role in achieving this.
A special shoutout to Carnival for their commitment to transporting these donations every year; their support is vital in helping us deliver these essential kits. As many of you are aware, shipping costs are exorbitant. By agreeing to accept our donations, Carnival enables us to allocate funds for other essential resources, such as solar lanterns for village birth attendants, water tanks, as well as salaries and training sessions for trained midwives and VBAs, and many other essential items.
We genuinely appreciate everyone who dedicated their time, resources, and enthusiasm to make this event a success. Together, we are significantly impacting maternal health and wellness in our communities.
Stay tuned for more updates on how you can continue to support this vital cause!!
