Comments

This is an interesting piece. It takes concerted efforts by all parties - be it government or individuals - to raise awareness about environmental disaster and take actions. This is in addition to influence from abroad. This case reminds us of this. Bashar Malkawi

As PNG is 85% remote and rural, it's ALL about grassroots. Opportunities to improve donor engagement with grassroot development actors by moving beyond Port Moresby and a handful of others centres, remains huge. Wonderful to read your story, Sarah. I believe in the telling you are already helping. Warmest wishes. (P.S. Any chance you are related to Jambi?)

Thanks Sonya for your excellent article. Your perspective as a young entrepreneur yourself is very valuable. In reading about some of the difficulties you faced (and still face) getting your ideas and business operating, I hope decision makers in government and elsewhere take note so that your dreams and those of thousands of other young Timorese are more easily realized. All the best and thanks again for your inspiring writing. Hugh Collett

Thanks for your comment. The World Bank survey I mentioned also asked seasonal workers in Australia how satisfied they were with their experience in Australia. Tongan workers gave the highest rating of 9.9 out of 10. 99% of Tongan wokers also say that they would recommend the SWP to others in their village. There are undoubtedly instances of exploitation of farm workers, but the SWP has good systems in place to report this. Employers will lose their license to employ SWP workers if they are found to have abused workers. More broadly, due to political and public pressure and media exposure, farmers are having to improve the way they treat workers. That's the main reason we argue that growth in the SWP has been so rapid - farmers are turning towards the more regulated labour supply option. Regards, Stephen

more than willing and able to work in any ground coundition, in any farm and any where.

Hi Judy, I am an admirer and supporter of the Hon Bryan Kramer. I expressed my interest to do volunteer work on community governance, law and justice, and gender awareness in Madang two years ago to a colleague who was doing ward development planning in Madang District for the MP. I put my hand up for an MP who promotes 'governance where people matter'. You may contact me.

Sarah, where are you based at present. I was asked by the PNG Police Minister to develop and help run educational workshops in his province, to help reduce violence, as a trial for other locations. I would like to talk with you more. I can send you my email if you would like to talk about what I have outlined, after long discussions with a number of people in PNG. regards

Thank you Judy. I am only glad the story got to be published. There are other stories too for learning and sharing, for lifting each other up.

Thank you Juliet for your support! We continue to do what we can for our people. Our government has to be the first to notice and advocate for our support with donors. But alas! It's often the other way around. Donors come looking ... And they see and support only what they want to support.

There should also be an investigation about the vast number of Tongans (& other Polynesians) who have participated in the program and have had severe heatstroke, illnesses and deaths due to the weather and living conditions. There have been many times where these workers have been ripped off by the employers sending them home with $1,000AUD to zero dollars. Many of these Tongan boys are not able to speak English to fight or speak up against their employer and don't understand their rights to their pay, therefore forcing many of them to run away and become illegal overstayers in Australia. More importantly some of these workers come here to work and withstand harsh weather conditions, long hours (some working 15hr+ days) and receive less than the minimum wage which is just inhumane. Australia is a country of opportunity and equal rights, however unfortunately it does not apply to the SWP.

Truly appreciate your work and the participation of Tonga in this brilliant program.

Thanks so much for sharing your journey with all of us Sarah. I agree that "leading from behind" is a fundamental principle of ethical and effective community development practice - and it can mean (and should mean) that community actions sometimes go in directions that one did not anticipate, or perhaps even agree with. I do hope that those of us on the donor side of the development sector can take this story and this principle even further - by recognising that the donor/expatriate role is not to "lead from behind", but to support people like you who are implementing these local community development practices. This requires us to reflect upon and challenge the prevalent disposition to call ourselves "experts", and to take on a bit more humility - both personally, and structurally, including at the donor organisational level, and in relation to the broader funding architecture.