Koare sub-district is located between Kagua (west), Ialibu (north), Pangia (east), and Erave (south) Districts in Mendi, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. It has between 10,000–15,000 people and has more than 10 central government recognized council wards. There is a newly built council chamber where council meetings are held. The President of the Council is elected by the councilors and there is a women's representative as well. The Council Clerk works alongside the President. Koare is half a day walk from Kagua, a day walk from both Pangia and Ialibu districts. The only access road is impassable due to negligence over the years by the relevant government authorities. The road is in fact part of the highlands highway and goes through Kagua District, passes through many villages to Koare Station. The road separates at Koare Station. One part of the road goes all the way to Kalawira village and separates again there and ends at Epabini and Rakunapi villages respectively. Beyond that is tropical thick jungle which goes all the way to Kerema in the Gulf Province. The other part of the road that separates at Koare Station goes all the way to Lapongo village and ends there. The Koare road that goes all the way to Kagua station has grown elephant grass and turned into a thick bush in recent years, thus cars do not have access to it. Just recently it has been cleared which allows four wheeler land cruiser cars to travel but takes many hours before arriving at Koare Station. Social services such as agriculture, city amenities, shops, community sports fields are none existent. However, there is one main health centre at Koare Station built in the 1970s under the reign of Sir Wiwa Korowi, but it is in a dilapidated condition due to negligence over the years. There were other aid posts that served as health outposts in Lapongo, Ita, and Karanda villages but they are none existent at the moment (2011). In the 1970s to this day (2011), two primary schools: Kuare Primary and Karanda Primary served the entire population. Later, Kerera Primary was built in the late 1980s. Then Pareanda Primary school was built in the late 1990s. Waluanda primary was also approved and built in early 2000. Recently around in the late 2000 Mapeanda Primary School was approved and built. All the other schools are run by the government except Waluanda Primary School which falls under the Bible Mission Church (BMC) and Mapeanda Primary School which comes under the Catholic Church. Just recently in January 2011 Mr. Joel Raitano, the current Assistant Secretary for Education for SHP approved and elevated Kuare Primary School to High School status but the development of the school at high school level is yet to be seen and only time will tell. There is an existing agricultural station at Koare Station but it has been neglected and bush has grown over it. There are two or three village trading stores that operate in Koare Station but the prices of goods are staggering due to transportation costs. Public Motor Vehicles (PMVs) are none existent. However, in the 1980s there were few land cruisers that operated as PMVs but went out of business due to the poor road condition, coupled with high fuel prices and management issues. That means a Koare Konda Kid who wants to travel to the main centres like Mendi or Mt. Hagen needs to walk half a day to reach Kagua or one full day to reach Pangia or Ialibu. The easiest place to reach the nearest access road is through Tindua which is located between Ialibu and Pangia. However, to reach this place is even harder and highly risky because people track the bush and cross over the fast flowing Yalo river, which is quite aggressive and dangerous as it flows down the mountain hitting and fighting with huge stones and hills. In the recent years many Koare Konda Kids have lost their lives in this river with no notice by the government authories. The only way to cross this river is along a traditional cane bridge which is hand built using bush canes, vines and dry wood. Sadly, this has been the way of life for the Koare Konda Kids since the days of their fore fathers. Over the years few Koare Konda Kids have gone to school and proceeded to high school. However, many gave up hope and lost interest in education and returned to their villages. One reason is the distance from Koare to Kagua, Ialibu or Pangia high schools which are too far from their villages in Koare. Other major reason is the staggering high school fees which are not affordable when coming from a village background. This is because of the very reason that cash economy is none existent, buying and selling does not take place frequently because there is basically no money and cash flow. A typical mother who is selling some sweet potatoes on a sunny Saturday market at Koare Station might end up earning mere K1.00 (US$.30cents). Nonetheless, only a few Koare Konda Kids have made it to tertiary institutions and are formally employed. This is only less than 50 and they are the only ones who bring the much needed cash to Koare through remittance to their parents and immediate relatives. Others have to fend for themselves and it is not easy to survive this way. However, Koare Konda Kids are well known for their subsistence agriculture and they live through that means for survival. If there were opportunities provided for them to try out modern agricultural techniques I am sure Koare Konda Kids would emulate other people in the region. It is our utmost hope that one day God will uplift us and bless us as He did to Joshua through Moses to reach the Promised Land. It is our hope and prayers that one day Koare Konda Kids will see it to the end and become prosperous and reach the Promised Land for the benefit of their children. Hence, we just hold on our hopes, dreams and aspirations that one day it will become a reality. God bless you all and pray for us.
