Collaborative Forum empowers community-based actors

Sr. Lorraine Garasu addresses community-based actors from across Bougainville, explaining the forum's theme during a gathering in a decorated hall.

Nazareth Center for Rehabilitation held a Forum at Tsiroge Conference Center on the 17th to the 19th of June 2025. The event brought together all community-based actors from all across Bougainville, a total of 71 participants. Uniting and empowering these community-based actors under the theme Responsibility, Quality and Sustainability.

Prior to the continuous realignment of Nazareth Center for Rehabilitation (NCFR) with its work and services in supporting these community-based actors which are Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs), Male Advocates (MAs), Peace Builders (PBs) and Community Counselors. The Forum created a vital space where NCFR and these community-based actors engaged in a meaningful dialogue to reach an understanding on how to collaborate more effectively. These Community-based actors play a critical role in ensuring that grassroots efforts are rooted in responsibility, delivering quality outcomes and are sustainable for the long term.

"An achievement for Nazareth Center for Rehabilitation is the joint forum because in the past years NCFR usually hosted separate forums for WHRDs, MAs, PBs and Community Counselors" said the Sr. Lorraine Garasu, Director of NCFR.

Highlights of the event:

·        Official opening of the Forum and keynote address from the Regional Member for South, Deputy Speaker Honorable Theresa Kaetavara.

·        Inspiring speeches from Member for Selau, Honorable Paul Cheung who spoke about more collaboration, awareness and commended the sacrifice that community-based actors continue to do. Dr. Fiona Crawford from DFAT Bougainville who also applauded the community-based actors for the critical work that is vital for social change that a nation needs, because they work at the grassroots level that the government oversees and she also added that teamwork is important and is always required in order to succeed.

·        IWDA representative, Loretta Hoban and PNGWL representative, Diana Unagi engaged in the panel discussion that focused on how development and aid works and supports Civil Society Organizations and local Actors and Communities.

·        Another inspiring and empowering panel discussion that focused on addressing partnership collaboration for effective networking and sharing of resources. The panel discussion included the representative of Haku Women's Collective(HWC), representative of Lenoke Women's Association (LWA), representative of Konnou Women's Association (KWA), representative of Bougainville Women's Federation (BWF), representative of Buin Youth Program (BYP), representative of Bougainville Disable Person Organization (BDPO) and a representative of Nazareth Center for Rehabilitation (NCFR).

·        Dialogue between NCFR and the community-based actors on establishing mutual understanding on how to collaborate more effectively. Also address the realignment of NCFR with its work and services and for all the WHRDs, MAs, PBs and Community Counselors to reflect, evaluate and process ways to move forward and work collaboratively with NCFR.

·        Empowering speeches from each representative of all districts that were present on the joint forum and official closing speech from former member for Peit Constituency Josephine Getsi.

 "The event brought together all the WHRDs, MAs, PBs and Community Counselors from all across Bougainville and it has united us all. For me as a Peace Builder is very grateful and thankful that I have attended the forum for I have met others that also do the same work I do, and it has encouraged me to continue the work I do in my community" said Benjamin, a Peace Builder from Peit Constituency. Ms. Pihei, a member the Konnou Women's Association said "coming from a place where there was so much violence, she really is grateful for the services provided to them and the work that NCFR did for them, being able to help them resolve conflicts within their area."

"Seeing more women speak out their concerns and comments on the forum has proven that we are slowly reaching gender equality where women have the freedom to speak and share their ideas" said a Male Advocate from Haku.

The event concluded with positive and impressive recommendations that were discovered during the dialogue. Most important the event united all the community-based actors. Narazeth Center for Rehabilitation applauds the community-based actors for their dedication to the work they continue to do in their communities to advocate in advocating for peace, reducing violence and gender equality. This event has strengthened the movement rooted in responsibility, committed to quality and driven by sustainability.

Sr. Lorraine Garasu speaking to the participants on thee forum	Some community-based actors from North Region in Bougainville
Participans from Torokina District	Male Advocates Representatives
NCFR Staff	Community-based actors from Peit Constituency
Participants stand in opening prayer to start the day	Community-based actors from Buin and CSN sisters