Field Stories

Clear information important when encouraging COVID-19 vaccine uptake in PNG

With COVID-19 vaccine mis-information reaching some of the remotest communities in PNG at a rapid pace, AHP partners are working hard to support greater vaccine uptake by building trust and sharing facts.

Papua New GuineaAHPSU1 February 2022COVID-19Comment

Ripples of change for Doroteia after water access improvements

When her village gained improved access to water with support from Disaster READY, Doroteia was able to become a businesswoman, selling her produce at market.

Timor-LesteAHPSU25 January 2022Disaster READY, WASHComment

Low-tech, cheap, but effective: protecting Terejinha’s home from a swelling river

Terejinha worried about the river every wet season, wondering if it might sweep away her modest home and everything in it. Through Disaster READY, Timor-Leste partners devised a solution.

Timor-LesteAHPSU25 January 2022Disaster READY, Disaster Risk Reduction, PreparednessComment

Protecting Kiribati’s youngest citizens with handwashing lessons

In Kiribati, training for preschool teachers, alongside new handwashing facilities, is instilling good hygiene practices in some of the country’s youngest citizens.

KiribatiAHPSU25 January 2022COVID-19, Education, WASHComment

Boys and girls learning together, for a more equal future

In Teknaf, Bangladesh, adolescent boys and girls are usually not allowed to learn together or socialise. But an AHP-supported youth club is challenging gender stereotypes while increasing access to education.

BangladeshAHPSU24 January 2022Education, Women and girls, Gender equalityComment

After a 450 year wait, Halimea village has clean water on tap

Residents of Halimea village in Timor-Leste say they have had problems with water access for 450 years. But all that has changed after support from the AHP Disaster READY program.

Timor-LesteAHPSU18 January 2022Disaster READY, WASHComment

Seeding resilience against uncertainty in PNG’s South Fly

In Papua New Guinea’s Western Province, COVID-19 outbreaks have impacted the ability of rural communities to travel to town. Through the AHP COVID-19 response, new agricultural methods are supporting food security and resilience in hard-to-reach communities.

Papua New GuineaAHPSU18 January 2022COVID-19, Food security, CAN DOComment

Women take the lead on COVID-19 communications in PNG and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville

The Meri Gat Pawa, Meri Gat Infomesen (Women have Power, Women have Information) partnership is one aspect of the AHP COVID-19 response in PNG and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Read how these women are working with Digicel to get COVID-19 information out to as many people as possible.

Papua New GuineaAHPSU20 December 2021COVID-19Comment

Fighting fake news on vaccines in Papua New Guinea

COVID-19 vaccine resistance in Papua New Guinea is strong, with social media playing a role. AHP partners are tacking mis-information and fake news on a number of levels, including a digital campaign on Facebook.

Papua New GuineaAHPSU6 December 2021COVID-19, Plan InternationalComment

Inclusive early childhood education supporting a bright future for Afser

Six year old Asfer, who lives with cerebral palsy, has progressed in leaps and bounds since his family enrolled him in an AHP-supported Early Childhood Development Centre and were able to access physiotherapy support.

BangladeshAHPSU2 December 2021Education, Early childhood, Disability inclusionComment

Accessible WASH facilities for Cox’s Bazar camps

Life in the camps of Cox’s Bazar is already tough, but for 16-year-old Maya, who lives with complex physical disabilities, it is an accessibility nightmare. With the support of AHP, Maya now has improved access to bathroom facilities at her home.

BangladeshAHPSU2 December 2021Disability inclusion, WASH Comment

Patience and time needed to combat vaccine hesitancy in Papua New Guinea

Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) NGOs have been supporting the COVID-19 response in Papua New Guinea (PNG) since the pandemic was declared in 2020, but are now focusing on supporting the vaccine roll-out and combatting mis-information. This field story looks at the work being undertaken by CAN DO and ABC International Development.

Papua New GuineaAHPSU24 November 2021COVID-19Comment

Solomon Islands students changing behaviours after learning about hazards at school

At Laulana School, students used to love to swim in the river when it was flooded, unaware of the risks. Now they stay away when there are heavy rains, after learning more about natural hazards through Disaster READY.

Solomon IslandsAHPSU22 November 2021Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster READY, School-based DRRComment

Ready in Rigo as PNG communities strengthen their disaster preparedness

Through Disaster READY, communities in Papua New Guinea’s Central Province have been supported by ChildFund PNG to come up with their own action plans to improve their disaster preparedness. For Molegolo village, a new water catchment will boost resilience to drought.

Papua New GuineaAHPSU15 November 2021Disaster READY, WASHComment

Better futures sprouting for displaced Rohingya women after a little nudge

Drawing on the theory that a little ‘nudge’ can lead to big change, AHP partners in Bangladesh are supporting Rohingya women’s livelihoods and food security, and in the process, boosting their self-reliance.

BangladeshAHPSU10 November 2021Livelihoods, Women and girls Comment

Targeting vaccine hesitancy in Papua New Guinea

AHP partners in Papua New Guinea have focused COVID-19 response efforts on support for the national vaccine roll-out and combating widespread mis-information in relation to COVID-19 and the vaccines.

AHPSU8 November 2021Comment

From Solomon Islands tsunami survivor to humanitarian: Ricky’s story

Solomon IslandsAHPSU5 November 2021Disaster READY, Preparedness, Tsunami, Disaster Risk ReductionComment

Eating green and clean from home gardens during Fiji’s second COVID-19 wave

Many communities in Fiji have been hit hard by the economic fallout of COVID-19, and the second wave of cases in 2021 also restricted access to food and markets. With AHP support, Nabulini village has successfully grown their own vegetables, keeping healthy food on the menu during lockdowns.

FijiAHPSU1 November 2021Food security, Livelihoods, COVID-19Comment

Living life again after conflict and displacement

For 26-year-old Mayada, conflict and displacement in Iraq had left her too scared to leave her home. With the support of AHP partner CARE, she has been able to access education and psychosocial support and has rejoined her community.

IraqAHPSU27 October 2021Psychosocial supportComment

Delivering COVID-safe education to Rohingya camps in Bangladesh

For Rohingya children living in camps in Bangladesh, learning centres provide vital social connection and access to education. But with COVID-19, they have been closed. AHP partners have adapted to provide caregiver-led education opportunities so children don’t miss out.

BangladeshAHPSU20 October 2021Education, COVID-19Comment