More than 25,000 people in the South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea, mostly women, will learn to read and write, and another 2,800 will become involved in income generating activities.  This will come about because of a three-year project funded by the government of the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s United Kingdom office.

Valued at more than US$656,000, the project will last three years. DFID has provided $630,000 and the remaining $26,000 was provided by private donations to ADRA UK.

This initiative will reduce poverty by working with community-based organizations and the government of Papua New Guinea to improve education and income-generation opportunities. The community and government will also learn more about the right to education, as well as the rights of women and those who are physically challenged, said Bert Smit ADRA director in the United Kingdom. He explained that when literate people are able to increase their income and health they are able to participate more effectively in the community, and they can more successfully influence public authorities on issues that affect their lives.

Papua New Guinea, or PNG, enjoys relative peace and a wealth of natural resources. It is said to be one of the most diverse countries on Earth, with more than 850 indigenous languages and at least as many traditional societies, out of a population of just over 5 million. At the same time, PNG is one of the most rural nations: according to figures from the World Bank, only 18 percent of its people live in urban centers.

However, poverty is high in PNG, particularly in rural communities: 37 percent of the population live at or below the poverty line. In 2005, the United Nations ranked PNG as one of the world’s poorest nations. Life expectancy in the country is just 55 years. PNG’s literacy rate is the lowest in the region with only 51 percent of women being able to read and write.