Magaret Oala and sisters takes ownership to clean-up their village.

The 'Big Village' of Hanuabada in Port Moresby, hosted its second annual clean-up since the initiative was started in 2016 by World Vision's Hanuabada Water & Healthy Life Project, together with project partners, the Hanuabada community and other organisations who supported the event. The annual clean-up started as early as 6:00am on Saturday 23rd of September, 2017.

Sixteen-year old Magaret, her two siblings and their mother who participated at last year's community clean-up day also took part in the clean-up event over the weekend. 

Magaret and her family are keen to see the village free of rubbish and waste that is polluting their once beautiful village.

The annual clean-up day at Hanuabada drew support from many corporate entities and NGO’s who also participated.

The village community and survivors of the recent fire disaster also actively participated in the clean-up day.

The whole village removed rubbish along the drains, under their houses and areas piled with plastic and iron rods.

“My sisters and I are excited to see our village come together for clean-up around our village. Such initiative would encourage the community to take ownership at ways to dispose rubbish. Now I see a lot of companies coming on board which is good sign as they (external parties) have started to realize our village is faced with pollution of waste and rubbish. Hopefully they will find solution to contain the problem,” said Magaret.

The Hanuabada Water and Healthy Life Project supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) is working alongside other partners to raise and address the problem of waste management that is affecting the lives of community.