Small steps of change :)

Malaria fun on the weekend. Felt it come on Friday and got the drugs into my system before it could do its worst. lethargic on saturday, headaches, pains in joints, neck back, organs, missed the markets schiesse! no crabs, shells or nice fruit and vege this weekend. not happy!

Project planning and budget moving slow, if I were a free agent, this would be a different story, lets just say I'd already be out in the field already! But I have been given the order of going through a system. Now this is not any old system. One would think very normal and functional from looking in on the outside, beautifully landscaped and neat layout, but knowing the innerworkings and dynamics of it all, makes for a very f'd up dysfunctional one that makes things much more complex then they need be! owel so I just run with it. Frustrated as hell, patience is a virtue!

Sunday a special day for the women of the province really made up for the sorry saturday. Financial independence and financial literacy course complete and new micro-finance bank launch for women only! HELL YEAH! about bloody time. (sorry my bad language) But ol muma na ol meri, they are the backbone of our province and have done it tough these last years due to some really f-ing hopeless counterparts of the opposite sex! It feels so good that they are finally standing up and fighting and making a stance! Its just great! I felt privileged to be a special guest there to witness the occasion and announce some special plans to help them in their mission and further inspire the women and young girls of our province that anything is possible today. As an independent self sufficient empowerwoman (well so I'd like to think of myself), I gave a speech in pidgin to surprise of many and gave it to them all about how I hated being called a Missus! me Meri Lavongai, me Meri Tusik, na me Meri Kavieng, na Meri New Ireland, na meri PNG! Me les lo harim this pla missus bullshit olsem me blo narapela hap! 150+ women and few men all laughed in hysterics and applauded. So hopefully I hit home for some of them to reach for the stars even if its only at the village grassroots level! I spoke to the mumas, asked them of their plans. One Aunty from New Hanover, has plans to start up her own Christian primary school. I spoke with others about opportunities for small scale womens fisheries projects. I really want to help these women where I can! Finally womens empowerment, educating them about saving money, investing and planning ahead in our province! haha I sense small steps of change. Instead of thinking just for today or a few weeks or moons ahead as which has been the norm for so long, .......these women are finally thinking towards planning a future, making goals and aspiring towards something greater! this is change for the better!