Promoting community self-reliance
Patrick Kaupun Rebaul, Papua New Guinea Patrick Kaupun, a member of the Sulka tribe in East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, grew up sixth in a family of nine siblings. His family has long sustained itself through farming—growing what they need to nourish themselves and through selling cocoa and coconuts. While previously isolated from many of the effects of globalization, Patrick, 23, now finds himself battling to preserve a way of life and the very land that his people depend on for survival. High rates of deforestation and mismanagement of resources threaten to erode a subsistence-based way of life that has supported his family and neighboring communities for generations. The gains realized by those who “give in” to commercial interests have proven to be short-term, explains Patrick, with the long-term effect being an erosion of values, destruction of natural resources, and increased urban migration. “The sad story is that our natural resources, though biologically rich, are being blindly explored, extracted, and destroyed as long as royalties are paid,” he says. “As a result, my society is virtually governed by outside influences which are creating a handout mentality in which our people become recipients and mere spectators on their own land.”
Not only is the land being degraded, according Patrick, but growing consumerism is promoting greater selfishness, discrimination, separation, and jealousy.
“The sad story is that our natural resources, though biologically rich, are being blindly explored, extracted, and destroyed.” Today, Patrick works through ENSBEK, a local nongovernmental organization, to promote community self-reliance. His project, the Klampun Conservation Corps, grew out of a community-
Participants in front of the Klampun Conservation Corps training center.
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wide commitment to conserve natural resources in securing a sustainable livelihood. Among the activities the corps has succeeded in carrying out are the creation a local fish pond, a soapmaking project, a women’s catering and sewing group, and a rice milling plant. Patrick first learned of ENSBEK’s activities at the age of 19, a crossroads in his life. While he had hoped to attend college, Patrick’s application was rejected and he quickly lapsed into unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking, which earned him the label of a troublemaker. It was through his sister that he first witnessed ENSBEK’s work within local communities. “These communities were well-organized,” he recalls. “Their lives depended on community-based resources. They didn’t need to go to town to look
for work and money. People lived in abundance, had enough food to eat, and were mindful of their environment.” “This was a turning point for me,” Patrick recalls. “I was challenged. I needed to help my community help themselves. I realized I had a big role to play in my community.” Patrick now works with local youth to identify their strengths and weaknesses and plan small, sustainable projects that they can implement in their communities. “As youth we have to learn to dream for ourselves,” says Patrick, who equips young people with the tools to shape and realize their dreams.