Wameblood’s exclusive dinner concert for A Worthy Cause hosted specifically to raise funds for a new Four in one double classroom for the Tanuga Primary School in the Kutubu District was held on Friday night and turned out to be a success.
The concert featured a children choir with a few kids from Tanuga Primary performing Wameblood’s song ‘Hope for PNG’ and some of the nation’s top singers such as Mereani MAsani, Mal Meninga Kuri, Kronos and Jnr Kro and the Wameblood group with Soul Harmony backed by the Cool Range Band.
Yawari was happy with the turnout and in his opening remarks thanked each and every one for making an effort stating that this is part of his initiative to do something for his beautiful raun wara in Kutubu District.
“With no proper health care for our mothers and children education, we blame the government, the landowners but who is at fault?”
“We can’t keep blaming each other because nothing will happen if we keep shifting the blame.”
Lydia Warubi, the nation’s pioneer female process technician in the Oil and Gas Industry with Santos in her address spoke about the struggle each child is facing, growing up in Tanuga as a former Tanuga Primary student.
“We sat on the floors in the classrooms for lessons in my time and I am happy learning about the steps that Johnny is taking to change that for them [kids].”
Warubi had attended Tanuga primary whilst doing her grade 2-6 and had the opportunity of furthering her education outside of the province while most of her peers resorted to marriage and building a family in the village.
“I was fortunate enough to eventually get an apprenticeship with the Santos group and worked my way up from there to where I am now.”
She stated that on my breaks she often went home to volunteer in the school and helped to teach the children.
“Education is the most powerful tool that can change the world.”
Meanwhile, Member for Nipa-Kutubu, Billy Joseph praised Yawari and the Foe Association for organizing this concert as this fundraising is a testament to the lack of rural development in Nipa-Kutubu.
“Let’s think big and work together on this initiative.”
The guests enjoyed performances from a children’s choir from Tanuga primary and some of the artists that have collaborated with Wameblood such as ‘Mama Masalai’ Mereani Masani, Mal Meninga Kuri, ‘Style Kumul’ Kronos and Jnr Kro singing some of their hits.
The night ended with Wameblood and Soul Harmony belting out ‘Meri Lewa’ and ‘Surakabo’ and were backed by the Cool Range Band.
The National Gaming Control Board were platinum sponsors for the event with the support from Santos and the Mineral Resources Development Company all backing the Foe Association chairman in this initiative.
Member for Nipa-Kutubu Billy Joseph, on the night, pledged K500, 000 from the District DDA’s office while Hela Governor, Philip Undialu also pledged K200, 000 to the ‘No Child Left Behind’ fundraiser. Painting auctioned at K20, 000 with a container of Books and computers for teachers in Kutubu on the way from Australia.