GOUNA FAITH MISSION HIGH, AN INDEPENDENCE GIFT FOR REMOTE LLG
By Vicky BAUNKE, Goroka EHP
THE ground breaking ceremony for the establishment of a Gouna Faith Mission High school, was considered an independence gift for the people of remote Gouno village in the rural Mt Michael LLG of Lufa in Eastern Highlands Province.
Since independence students from 12 primary schools in the Mt Micheal LLG had to walk the rugged terrains of the jungles of Mt Michael, to access the only nearby Lufa High School.
In an initiative by one of the locals Mr Brian Loviko and the Faith Mission capitalising on the education department’s corporate plan to establish day High schools throughout each LLG in the province , the idea was pushed forward for the school to be established.
Mr Loviko expressed that the struggle his people faced was real, especially for basic government services such as education, health, and decent road access.
For decades students have walked miles, crossed fast flowing rivers and climb mountains, risking their lives to get education.
Eastern Highlands Education Director Albert Wesley who was present at the occasion expressed his gratitude to Mr Loviko for taking the initiative and program to deliver education service to the unreached since independence in 1975.
Mr Wesley said the Gouno High School will be formally registered in the next 2 weeks as the Provincial Education Board looks to forward to plotting the Gouno Secondary School.
The ground breaking ceremony was done by Eastern Highlands Deputy Provincial Administrator Peter Gare, EHP Education Director Albert Wesley, Eastern Highlands Provincial government Project Officer Mauri Abu at the Gouno Faith Mission in Mt Michael LLG, Lufa district Eastern Highlands Province.
The Gouno High School received the blessings from the Faith Mission church where the school will be built in partnership with the Education Department.
Meanwhile, Faith Mission Manageress Jacqui Wood recalled the struggle she had to go through trying to get educated back in Lufa during the days of the missionaries (her parents) and witnessing the ground breaking ceremony was a milestone achievement for a remote school.
Mrs Wood who had to live her job and luxury lifestyle in Australia to return to serve in the Gouno Faith Mission which also accommodates a Bible School and Health centre, says it was her calling in life to give back to the community which her parents brought life to.
