Developing and implementing a Global Grant enables Rotarians from numerous Clubs and Districts to work together and deliver projects on a scale they could not do alone. One such project just completed is the Lese Oalai project in Papua New Guinea. But it’s just the start of an ongoing commitment to the local community.

Article by John Oswald, Rotary Club of Torquay, D 9780

After three years of effort led by the Rotary Clubs of Torquay (D9780), Manly (D9685) and Boroko (D9620), and assisted by PNG NGO the Peter Nathan Loko Foundation (PNLF), 22 composting toilets were handed over to the Lese Oalai school, Gulf Province. Papua New Guinea in November last year. These toilets replaced the traditional “pit” toilets.

Funding for the project included a US$87,000 Global Grant from The Rotary Foundation which included support from ten Rotary Clubs and DDF from five Rotary Districts.

Importantly, the work was all done by volunteers from Lese Oalai, supervised by two RAWCS volunteer teams and the PNLF which is managing an ongoing public education program to teach the school children the correct use of these toilets.

The carpenters, most who had not even seen a screw before, were trained, educated, supervised and mentored by a RAWCS team over a two-week period. They were able to complete the construction of the toilets unsupervised with mentoring occurring via Zoom over the next four months. As a result, they have now become very employable and that is evidence of the long-term sustainability required of a Global Grant.

The waterless toilets comprised two for staff and ten each for boys and girls and included disability access to two of the toilets.

The opening of the toilets was a marvellous day for all, attended by officials from the Provincial Government, the Catholic Education Department, the Rotary Club of Boroko and by teachers, students and parents. Volunteers from Port Moresby, over three hours away by road, brought swathes of food, the villagers dressed in traditional attire, and everybody celebrated on this very significant event for the town.

This was the first step in an ongoing program to reconstruct the school and improve the community. The next projects will most likely include rebuilding the aid post and bringing water to the school.

Written in collaboration with Lucy Loko, Rotary Club of Greater Geelong, and Founder/President of the Peter Nathan Loko Foundation.