It has been a busy few months for Papua New Guinea expatriates and friends of PNG in the UK.
In December last year, it emerged that the UK Charity Commission had granted registered status to our charity Wantok Support. This was initially started by a group of PNGs and friends with a shared interest in the country, who were looking to assist Papua New Guinean citizens facing financial hardship either here in this country or abroad.
The process of attaining such a status began at a meeting in May 2011 when the group finalised a constitution and elected Trustees to oversee the running of operations. The Trustees comprise a chair, treasurer, secretary and a fund-raising manager. Then began the job of giving the charity a name that would be familiar to Papua New Guineans as well as those associated with it, hence “Wantok”, a tok pisin word which literally means “someone who speaks my language”. Its informal meaning also translates as “friend, close friend or mate”, a gesture to make those who do not speak the same language feel included. It is the latter meaning that the Trustees chose as most fitting, and so in July 2011, the group lodged its application with the Charity Commission.
Like many other things in life, even lodging an application proved challenging. Around this time, Swire Shipping, a long established shipping company with links to PNG, had heard of the Trustees’ plight and stepped forward to assist with funds that enabled full registration.
On 8th December 2011, Wantok Support finally obtained full charity status and recognition from the Charity Commission, where our registration number is 1144961. In keeping with the established practice, the position of trustee was offered to the incoming High Commissioner to the UK, HE Ms Winnie Kiap and she graciously accepted. To date, there are 11 Trustees and 23 members.
On the 19th May 2012, the charity hosted its first ever Annual General Meeting in East Grinstead, West Sussex. The High Commissioner, Trustees and members were in attendance. It was also at this meeting that the Charity launched this website. Yvette Elkana (Director of Gateway Media) played a pivotal role in its creation and subsequent launch.
The month of June proved just as exciting and eventful. The PNG community was graced with a visit from HE Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio, who was in London for the Queen’s Golden Diamond Jubilee.
At a state function hosted by the High Commission, Sir Michael Ogio, who had recently married and was on his honeymoon, expressed pleasure at having met members of the PNG community and thanked them for their good wishes. He also commended the Wantok Support Trustees for their perseverance and the newly attained status of the charity.
Towards the end of July, London again became centre stage, playing host to the 2012 Olympic Games. Papua New Guinea was represented by eight Olympians: Toea Wisil and Nelson Stone (Athletics); Ryan Pini and Judith Meauri (Swimming); Raymond Ovinau (Judo); Dika Toua and Steven Kari (Weightlifting); and Theresa Tona (Taekwondo).
Their arrival in London created a celebratory atmosphere. The PNG community gathered at the High Commissioner’s residence to share ‘kaikai’, which translates as ‘food’ or ‘meal’.
Members of the community formed a traditional PNG dance troupe which gave a special performance for the Olympians at the Dickens Inn, near Tower Hill on Tuesday July 31st. The troupe, which was led by Wantok Support Trustee Rhonda Lundberg and also included two other members of the charity, gave a second performance the following day on a pontoon at nearby St Katharine’s Docks, at an event organised by the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority and its London partner, Lee Travel Consulting.
A few weeks later it was the turn of PNG’s Paralympians to come to London and represent the country at the Paralympic Games. Athlete Francis Kompaon and power-lifter Timothy Harabe both achieved personal bests at the Games, a fact which was noted by Team Manager Rosemary Mawe at an informal farewell luncheon at the PNG High Commissioner’s residence in London on 8th September. High Commissioner HE Ms Winnie Kiap also paid tribute to the Paralympians’ hard work and dedication. She emphasised that for Papua New Guinea to have a presence at these Games was a tremendous achievement of which we as a nation are very proud.
The athletes and Committee donated two PNG athlete shirts to Wantok Support Charity UK, which in turn provided specially adapted sports equipment, such as footballs and rugby balls with bells for the blind and partially sighted, to assist Paralympians back home.
For further information about becoming a member or donating to Wantok Support please go to Donations
