The Growth of the PNG Lasallian Family

In 2012, Br. Ignatius found a text book on group dynamics (see the chart below). Br. Iggy found the chart and its explanation to be very interesting for the Lasallian Family. At that time he believed that the PNG Lasallian Family was contained in the top right hand quadrant.

A simple explanation:

HIGH CHALLENGE

The author of the diagram maintains that if a group experiences a number of strong challenges, but in turn is also receiving strong support, then the group will experience real growth.

What is your opinion? What challenges do you face? How can the Lasallian National Office and Area Coordinators support you

in your Lasallian journey?

Ignore Authority

LOW SUPPORT

Moving Backwards Growth

HIGH SUPPORT

Lack of Activity

LOW CHALLENGE

At the start of this year, Area Coordinators met in Madang. Many were concerned about the growth of the Lasallian Family and asked similar questions about how we can strengthen the family, and how we can reach out to lone and lost Lasallians.

According to data analysis of the members in PNG, the following graphs display the current growth of members by province and by year. Today there are 417 registered members and 17 areas in the country. See the 2 figures below:

Kate Mason, Communication Manager at the Lasallian Centre in Bankstown Sydney, did an online survey to find answers to some of these questions. Here are the results of this survey.

A. Categorized by Year Members joined the LSF YEARS MEMBERS JOINED

200 150 100 50

1997 - 2010 0

2011 - 2015 2016 - 2019

Membership Year Not Stated

THE GROWTH OF THE PNG LASALLIAN FAMILY

B. Categorized by Area

REGISTERED AREAS

80 60 40 20

0 NCD WewakSimbu CentralWabag KimbeMadangHage VanimoGorokaMendi/Tari Rabaul/KokopoAitape AlotauBuka Gulf OthersJiwaka

Registered Areas

Main reason why Lasallians are no longer active in the Family: their own personal reasons, some due to personal financial and time constraints.

Suggestions on what should be improved: leadership, membership benefits, communication and awareness.

Evaluation on LSF mission statements: 53% agree that LSF is active in revitalising and energizing effective teaching and learning, 46% agree that LSF is active in empowering young people, and 60% disagree that LSF is financially sustainable.

Suggestions on ways to support lone and lost Lasallians; Personally contact and invite these lone and lost Lasallians; engage and involve these Lasallians; give them something to do in the Family; make it a project every year to reach out and find Lasallians; create opportunities to meet and greet Lasallians in all areas, improve communication in the areas, be consistent in the publication of newsletters and Mambu.

Other suggestions for improvement are: Allow self-sufficient leaders to take the lead, give more attention to Lasallians in remote and rural schools, find new platforms to train or deliver learning and teaching or Lasallian resources to teachers , reach out and create avenues to engage past students and former staffs of Lasallian schools.

Thank you to all those who participated in the survey.