Papua New Papua New GuineaGuinea

Papua New Guinea gets its name from the Portuguese ‘Ilhas dos Papuas’ - Island of the Fuzzy Hairs, as the first Europeans to visit the island were Portuguese.

PNG is in the Pacific – one of PNG is in the Pacific – one of Australia’s closest neighboursAustralia’s closest neighbours

PeopleMost of the population live in isolated rural communities. Only 16% of Papua New Guineans live in the main urban areas, however, this is changing. Many rural people are moving to the towns, putting pressure on services and increasing competition for employment. Violence, crime and social problems are on the rise.

►There are approximately 5.8 million PNG people living on the main island and many smaller ones.

►The official language of PNG is English, though in remote communities, only Pidgin is spoken.

►There are over 867 known local languages spoken throughout PNG.

Geography►Papua New Guinea’s mainland is Papua New Guinea’s mainland is

the eastern half of the island of the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and has an area of New Guinea and has an area of 452 860 square kilometres.452 860 square kilometres.

►There is a mountain range running There is a mountain range running down its centre.down its centre.

►There are over 600 separate islands to There are over 600 separate islands to the north and east of the main island, the north and east of the main island, many having been formed by volcanic many having been formed by volcanic activity.activity.

►Nearly ¾ of PNG is covered by dense Nearly ¾ of PNG is covered by dense tropical rainforests.tropical rainforests.

►Soils are mainly poor and fertile only in Soils are mainly poor and fertile only in lowland areas.lowland areas.

Climate►Papua New Guinea is Papua New Guinea is

close to the equator so close to the equator so the climate is monsoonal the climate is monsoonal with high temperatures with high temperatures and humidity along the and humidity along the coast, and cooler coast, and cooler conditions in the conditions in the mountains.mountains.

►Rainfall is high between Rainfall is high between December and March.December and March.

Environment►PNG is rich in wildlife and natural

resources, including minerals, timber and fish.

►Birds of Paradise, tree kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots, cuscus and spiny anteaters are some of its wildlife.

►Although its rugged terrain and limited road network have restricted development, progress is now leading to deforestation and mining pollution.

Industries and Products►Agricultural products include coffee, coco,

copra (coconut), palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla, shell fish, poultry and port.

►Industries include copra (coconut) crushing, palm oil processing, wood chip and plywood production; gold, silver and copper mining; crude oil production; petroleum refining, construction; and to a small extent, tourism.

Food►Traditional foods eaten in PNG include

Taro Bananas (both raw and cooking bananas) Coconut Cucumber Watermelon Pineapple Rice Chicken Pig

Housing

►People in the villages live in simple houses made out of wood, bamboo and banana leaves with thatch roofs.

►They are often high off the ground to make it cooler, and avoid the mud in the wet season.

► Families in the villages often have two houses – one for the men and one for the women and children.

►All the cooking gets done in the woman’s house.

Traditional Life

►Traditionally Papua New Guinean’s lead a village life that centres around their family first, then their village, and lastly, their district.

►The traditions that are unique include songs and dance, and ceremonies for all different seasons and occasions.

►Traditional costumes use the products that are available to the villagers.

► Recent education reforms Recent education reforms in PNG have dramatically in PNG have dramatically increased the number of increased the number of children enrolled in children enrolled in school.school.

► The adult literacy rate is The adult literacy rate is about 64% (male 71 % about 64% (male 71 % and female 58%).and female 58%).

► About 15% of children About 15% of children never got to school, and never got to school, and of those who do, 45% of those who do, 45% leave before Grade 6.leave before Grade 6.

Schools

►Many more boys than girls go to school, because traditionally boys are more important in families.

►In PNG all students in all schools have to pay a fee to attend. This makes it very difficult for many families.

►In the PNG Lutheran Education Department there are 204 primary/community schools and 11 secondary schools.

Religion►Most people are Christian, but

many also follow the traditional religious practices of their villages, which may include spirit or ancestor worship.

►This may mean farming communities celebrating fertility and harvests with icons and dancing or practices such as sorcery and witchcraft is widespread.

►The Lutheran Church has over 1.1 million members.

►Papua New Guinea is not a poor country, rather a country that is not managed well. Corruption and mismanagement of resources are real problems.

►People suffer from lack of facilities and resources.

Australian Lutheran World

Service and other church aid

agencies are working hard to

begin to improve the living

standards and opportunities for

all people.

Let justice flow like a stream and

righteousness like a river that never

goes dry.Amos 5:24Amos 5:24

Let us all work

towards justice and righteousne

ss for the beautiful people of

Papua New Guinea.

We love because God first loved us.

1 John 4:19