Dear Koare Konda Kids,
I wish to bring to your attention the need to form an association that will become an umbrella organization to speak out, speak about, speak for, and fight for the rights of the children of Koare. To start off I am calling this: "KOARE RURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION". This is because we have been neglected for far too long and there is an urgent need now to form this association. The association can become a legally recognized institution to fight for ALL RIGHTS that belong to the children of Koare. Without such an institution in place to advocate for our rights, we will always be regarded as "beke-piri carriers", way-back-lay-back group of people in the doldrums who cannot be able to stand up to fight for their rights which include basic services that belong to us. We will always be pushed aside, shut, ignored and we will always be told to come back the next day which the next day will turn into weeks, months and years, and eventually end up getting nothing. So what do we do now? It is easy to form an association. I am sure some boys from Koare have been talking about this but to this day nothing is done. That's why we have to put our heads together and build this institution based on team work and collaborative action so that we all take full responsibility for the growth and take ownership of it. Here is how we can do it:
- I (John) will come up with the initial framework on how the organization will look like in terms of structure and format. This will be placed on the website for comments from all of you.
- We all have to decide on what to include in the association. For example, constitution, organizational philosophy, mission statement, aims and objectives, major projects and development priorities we want the organization to take the leading role etc.
- Remember, I came up with the idea of a "Development Model", which I asked you guys to contribute. This development model will be the basis on which the association will heavily rely and depend on. This is because we want to have an association that is meaningful and will work for our benefit and we know what we want for Koare. If you guys can contribute some ideas on the "Development Model" that will be great so that we all agree on one model and our association will be based on that model for development.
- I am aware Rex Yatu from Kupia village (who is currently working with Interoil Company in PNG does have some good ideas already on how to form an association. May be he can provide us with what he is doing and how far he has gone in forming the association. However, in my view if all the Koare Konda Kids contribute and at least throw one or two ideas will be great so that we all know that it is our collective and team work.
- Think about some major development needs and priorities such as education, health, agriculture, commerce, infrastructure (roads & bridges), church & pastors, sports and recreation (rugby, basket ball, soccer, athletics, etc), and many more that you can think of. How can these development needs become part of the association? That's where the development model plays a significant part to give us a clearer picture of where we are heading.
- Finally, we will need people to take care of different roles and responsibilities. For instance, we will need the Association President, Deputy President, Treasurer, Secretary, external advisors on ex-officio positions (in my view these will be the educated Koare kids in different fields to provide up to date intelligent advise to the committees that will make up the organisation, committees and members of each committee (for example, Health Committee, Finance Committee, Education Committee, Agriculture Committee. In health Committee Dr. Issac Wapu can be an ex-officio executive and other people with health and medical background can become ex-officio committee members for external advise but someone from Koare who is based in Koare needs to be the chairman to see things are moving. We will not find this hard because there is already an health board in place at the Koare health centre and the chairman of the health centre will automatically become the chairman of the health committee, same in Education, Joel Raitano can be the ex-officio executive and others like John Rombo can be ex-officio committee member who will provide advise and direction. Other development areas also the same.
- Once the association is formed we can launch it in Koare in the presence of all Koare Konda Kids, our papa mama, lapuns, school children and make it work for the benefit of Koare through fireworks and great fanfare.
- Bear in mind that it will be the work of the ex-officio executive and ex-officio members to seek funding and bring in services. However, the organization will be run in close consultation with the work of Koare Sub-district council members so that we help the councilors make proper, credible, wise, transparent and accountable decisions for the development of Koare.
- We can also have a Legal Committee and Advisor in this association for legal advise whenever needed. The village court will play a major part in this with the support of a 'Professional Lawyer" who can act as an ex-officio executive.
In the weeks to come I will put together the "Koare Rural Development Association" framework so that we all contribute ideas once posted on the Koare Konda Kids' Community Forum website.
Kind regards and let's think about this now and make it work.
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