Out of anguish born an invincible foundation of wonder

FRANCIS NII | Supported by the South Pacific Strategic Solutions Writing Fellowship

THE YOUNG MAN WATCHED at his mother’s hospital bedside as she succumbed to the nefarious disease tuberculosis before his eyes.

The woman that bore him, nurtured him and worked so hard as he grew up and was educated to be able to live an affluent modern lifestyle had died without fully realising the benefits of all she had invested in him.

The man was devastated. He was mentally torn to shreds. Worst of all, his mother had died of a disease that, according to medical science, is curable. Why?

The young man pondered. As he stood there, anguished and perplexed, his tearful eyes caught sight of many other souls, young and old, lying motionless in their beds waiting for their time to come or recuperation.

His heart went out to them. And he promised, ‘I will never leave this hospital’.

Since then, the young man has established an unbreakable bond with the hospital that found its most outstanding form in the foundation of a charity organisation that truly reflects the Simbu heart …’we hug when you expect a hand’.

The organisation carries the motto, ‘Simbus helping Simbus – people helping people’.

Jimmy Drekore, son of Barbina and Raphael Drekore of the Dinga number two tribe in the Sinasina Yongomugl District of the Simbu Province, Papua New Guinea, was born on 15 September 1976. He was the eldest in a family of six, with one brother and two sisters.

Jimmy grew to school age under the watchful eyes of Barbina and Raphael. He attended Koge Primary School at the age of five, and was in Grades 1-6 from 1982-87. He completed Grade 10 in 1991at Kondiu Rosary High School.

In 1992, Jimmy went to Downlands College in Toowoomba on the plateau west of Brisbane, Australia, on a three-year scholarship courtesy of AIDAB (the Australian International Development Assistant Bureau).

At the end of his schooling, Jimmy returned to PNG and studied applied science at the Lae University of Technology from 1995-98. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in applied chemistry.

The following year he got a job as an analytical chemist with Newcrest’s gold mine at Lihir Island in the New Ireland Province. It’s the position he still holds today.

In 2004, Jimmy’s mother Barbina passed on at the Sir Joseph Nombri Memorial Hospital Kundiawa. Jimmy was devastated. It was very painful. Standing at the bedside of his dead mother, Jimmy promised to never leave the hospital.

Two years later, the promise was manifested in the establishment of a humanitarian organisation that has grown from strength to strength. Its members comprise Simbus of all creed and walks of life across the globe. It is Simbu Children Foundation (SCF).

Simbu Province in the central highlands of PNG is mountainous. Economic resources and opportunities are limited. The annual income for an average village family is less than K1,000. That kind of money is insufficient to meet all the financial needs of the family including medical expenses.

For a child with a heart problem is to travel to Port Moresby with guardian or parent for the visiting specialist overseas doctors to operate on costs around K1,500 to K2,000 depending on the age of the child.

Most parents cannot afford this kind of money, so the child has to die.

There are many such cases. The idea of SCF fills this vacuum of addressing the social welfare needs of the poor. And Simbus in all works of life enthusiastically volunteered when the idea of forming SCFwas floated.

It initially started as family charity work. After his mother’s demise, Jimmy and his young wife Merrilyn embarked on a monthly protein diet supplement program by supplying milk, Milo, eggs and chicken liver to sick children in the pediatric ward which SCF has now taken over.

At the same time, Jimmy floated the idea of forming a charity to support the sick and disadvantaged children of Simbu with the aim of developing a healthy future for Simbu men and women. The response was heartening. Simbus in all walks of life joined SCF.

Merrilyn, a secondary school teacher and a very understanding and cooperative wife, worked hard alongside Jimmy to ensure the idea became a reality. Merrilyn remains a force behind the successes of SCF.

By 2006 all the formalities were in place and in 2008, then Governor General Sir Paulias Matane officially launched the Foundation at a glittering occasion at the Crowne Plaza in Port Moresby.

Since then the organisation has grown from strength to strength in achieving its aim of helping the sick and disadvantaged children of Simbu.

Among its achievements are the purchase and delivery of a life-saving electric infant incubator from the United States, the monthly supply of proteins for malnourished children in the Paediatric Ward, sponsoring airline tickets and other logistics for open heart patients and their guardians from Simbu to Port Moresby through the annual Brave Hearts program and an annual Christmas barbecue and presents program for sick children in the hospital.

The pinnacle of all the achievements has been the funding of research into osteomyelitis that I wrote about recently in PNG Attitude.

The research is accredited by Professor Peter Siba, director of the PNG Medical Research Institute in Goroka. As such it is worthy of being published in any international medical journal.

The executives, members and benefactors of SCF are very happy that the organisation in its short history has gone into funding a scientific research project.

SCF is currently embarking on the construction of a mini-hydro power generation for Irugl Care Centre at the foot of PNG’s highest peak, Mount Wilhelm.

The care centre, now known as Mother of Life Centre, is a self-help organisation for orphans and disadvantaged children. The parents have either broken up or died of HIV/AIDS, accidents or as a result of other calamities.

The centre was started by a Netherland national, Martin Van der Palen, in 2002. Martin came to Simbu as a lay missionary and married Agatha from Irugl. They lived and worked as lay missionaries in Simbu for 15 years before moving to the Netherlands.

While in Europe, Agatha died. Her death wish was to build a charity home in her village, Irugl, where youths could be empowered by providing them the necessary support to attain some education and engage in self-sustenance activities.

Martin has been raising funds in his home country and visiting Irugl once each year on a tourist visa because the PNG government will not grant him citizenship for health reasons. But the level of support has been diminishing because of Martin’s ill health.

The first product from the centre to enter higher education is Komba Bundo, who is in first year university at the University of Technology in Lae.

Although Martin and Agatha established a noble institution helping Papua New Guinean children, the centre gets little support from state agencies.

So SCF has been supporting the centre with food and second hand clothes. SCF identified electricity as one of the important needs of the centre. Hence it has stepped in to help.

SCF volunteer engineers have already carried out site assessments and they are into the planning stage. Once this is complete and the exact cost established, the next task is to find money to fund it.

The unique virtue of SCF is that it has been relying on its own fundraising and benevolent donations from Simbu elites - members, volunteers and Simbu men and women in business - to execute its aims.

It has never knocked on the doors of donors, government agencies and politicians since its inception.

SCF stands on the principle that, if someone sees and believes in what it is doing, let them step forward with their support.

The principle came of age this year when a number of Simbu members of parliament stepped forward of their own accord with pledges of various amounts to support the work of SCF.

Simbu Governor Noah Kool and Tobias Kulang, member for Kundiawa Gembogl, topped the list with a K100, 000 pledge each. It is obvious that our MPs have faith and trust in the kind of work that SCF has being doing.

The Irugl hydro power project will likely cost close to K500,000 and SCFdoes not have that kind of money. Nonetheless, as the old adage goes, ‘where there is a will there is a way’. No mountain is insurmountable. No valley is so deep as to defeat the Simbu spirit.

Jimmy Drekore, SCF president and founder, is a man of strong will and a workaholic. He is an excellent results-oriented organiser and, with the full backing of like-willed and talented Simbu elites, the hydro power generation project is achievable if not this year, definitely next year.

‘Even if it means to knock on doors, it shall be done’, says Jimmy Drekore.

If you want to know more about the Irugl hydro power project or Simbu Children Foundation, contact the writer on francisnii23@gmail.com

Comments

[Brown Bolzy Gari]

Francis thank you for this story. This story needs to be told and no one can write it better than what you just did.

SCF volunteers will continue to support Jimmy and SCF in our little ways to ensure SCF reaches heights sufficient to help the needy and disadvantaged population of Simbu.

Jimmy, your decision to quit your full time job on Lihir Island to pursue this cause is very noble and we are humbled and thank the Good Lord for giving you to us Simbus.

We are sure you will do more to the little angels in the rocky and foggy mountains through SCF.

[Jimmy Drekore]

Thank you everyone for your encouragement and compliments.

I am humbled to see all these beautiful posts, motivating me to do more to serve the unfortunate children and families in the rural villages.

What good is there in life than to give a helping hand to a fellow human that needs help in this rather selfish world.

Thank you Francis for putting it eloquently. I also like to take this moment to thank Corney K Alone and wife Tanya for the K1,000 donation. Your beautiful hearts are a blessing to others.

Kids in the Irugl Mother of Life Center at the foot of Mt Wilhelm are closer to seeing light that will brighten their future.

What little help we give will go a long way to giving hope to others. Thanks once again Corney and Tanya.

[Reginald Renagi]

A very inspiring story by Francis Nii.

Jimmy Drekore is one good Simbu Samaritan.

Keep up the good work you both are doing.

[Jerilee Diaram]

An inspiring article. Jimmy is a good Samaritan. God has a plan for him. He is the chosen child of Simbu, who can really help the sick with all his heart.

Simbu people should be happy and be proud of having a son like Jimmy. Also his wife was heaven sent, she really helped and was at his back through all the work they did.

It is a heart-touching story. His mum died of a curable disease. Many people may ask why, but all these things happen for a reason.

This has happened to open Jimmy's eyes to see the needs of those who are suffering in that same hospital. This story has shows us how one person can make a change in his or her own area. May God bless those souls in need.

[Timothy Poroda]

Good Samaritan and well done for the charity you have brought into your province. I believe many Simbus are now part of the organisation which you have set up.

It's an agonising part of our life that some of our loved one's died of curable disease. For a young guy like Jimmy who lost his mother was dreadful But it gave Jimmy a hint of what to do.

It has now been conquered perfectly by Jimmy.

[Laurence Quinlivan]

Well done Francis. I hope your article has a multiplier effect. More contributers need to flood PNG Attitude with good stories detailing the productive efforts of "self help" groups.

[Francis Nii]

On behalf of Jimmy who is doing another charity, attending to a funeral up in the mountain of Dinga at this time, and SCF Executives and volunteers, I would like to thank Corney Alone and his wife Tanya.

They have just donated K1,000 towards the Irugl mini hydro power project after having read the story of Jimmy and the work of the charity he founded.

The money was electronically transferred to the SCF account 30 minutes ago.

Thank you Corney and Tanya. God will continue to bless you to bless others.

Thanks to you Michael, Jeff, Joe and Phil for your commendations and inspiring and encouraging comments. Thank you all and God bless.

[Bernard Yegiora]

Thank you Francis, that was very informative and interesting at the same time.

Please write more about the organisation and the work it is doing so non-members can keep track.

At the moment we are reading about a lot of fascinating Papua New Guineans who are ordinary every day people making an impact in their communities. Jimmy is no doubt in the mix.

Thank you to PNG Attitude and KJ for the publicity. I believe this blog will be the catalyst for a literature revolution in PNG.

[Phil Fitzpatrick]

Jimmy is also the vice-president of the PNG Society of Writers, Editors and Publishers (SWEP).

SWEP has now taken over the organisation of the annual Crocodile Prize for literature.

Jimmy was the inaugural winner of the poetry prize in 2011 and still writes great poems.

The Simbu seems to be the hub of a great pool of talent in PNG.

Must be something in the water.

[Joe Wasia]

Thumbs up, Jimmy. Papua New Guinea needs people like you.

I lost my mother in 2010 when I was at school but the good Lord helped me come this far. Thank God for that.

I will have a turn writing such stories in later years.

[Corney K Alone]

Great story, Francis. Thank God for the heart and passion of Jimmy. Keep up with this excellent work!

The country moans and groans for ethical leaders who will become change agents.

I am sure this success story will inspire the sons and daughters of our beautiful country to see challenges, that fires up compassion for the community needs and do something.

Jimmy, write me. I look after a family club called "Rainbow Smile Club" - whose focus is to collect smiles (for God's Glory) from people with medical needs through hospital visitations, giving flowers and little financial support where necessary. We may be happy to assist where we can.

[Jeff Febi]

This is trully inspirational! Jimmy may God bless you more and make it easier for you and SCF to help a lot more disadvantaged children and families.

Franciis, what a lovely story!

Looking forward to read more on SCF and its work.

[Michael Dom]

Jimmy Drekore is an inspiration, 'a warrior poet' and a good man.

From what I read SCF is doing an amazing job where help is badly needed.

Congratulations to all who support Jimmy and SCF.