In a heartwarming display of solidarity, major universities in Papua New Guinea have united to support the victims of a devastating landslide that struck Mulitaka in Enga Province.
The landslide, which occurred on March 28, 2024, buried several homes, and resulted in numerous fatalities, leaving the local community in dire need of assistance.
Clinton Kopyoto, the President of the Divine Word University (DWU) Enga Students Association and a third-year Information Systems student, announced a collaborative initiative involving Divine Word University, the University of Papua New Guinea, the University of Technology, the University of Natural Resources and Environment, and the University of Goroka.
These institutions are spearheading a donation drive to provide much-needed aid to the affected people of Enga Province.
In an interview with PNG HAUSBUNG, Kopyoto said the idea for the donation drive was collectively agreed upon by the presidents of the Enga student associations at each of the respective universities.
He emphasized the urgency and importance of this initiative,
“The donations at Divine Word University will kick off next week and will continue for two weeks straight.”
Kopyoto explained that the timing of the donation drive coincides with the students’ end-of-semester exams, which start on June 3rd and continue into the following week.
Despite the busy exam period, the students are committed to ensuring the success of the donation drive.
“Students are expected to go for their semester one holidays after exams, so that is when the donations and contributions will be taken up.”
The donation drive will be open to contributions not only from students but also from business houses and potential investors.
Kopyoto urged these entities to participate, highlighting the open nature of the donations and specifying that contributions can be made at the DWU campus.
“We encourage business houses and potential investors to also donate if necessary as it is an open donation.”
The collaborative effort across universities aims to gather as many resources as possible to support the relief efforts in Mulitaka.
Other universities around the country will conduct similar drives, with all collected donations being funneled towards assisting the victims.
The Mulitaka landslide has had a profound impact on the local community, causing significant loss of life and destruction of property.
The landslide’s immediate aftermath saw homes buried and families displaced, creating an urgent need for humanitarian aid.
In response to this tragedy, the united effort of Papua New Guinea’s major universities represents a beacon of hope and community spirit as Kopyoto highlighted.
As the donation drive gains momentum, it is expected to make a significant difference in the recovery and rebuilding efforts in Mulitaka.