Ohana Foundation takes El Nino preparedness awareness to village level
An El Nino preparedness and mitigation awareness was taken to Malmal Village, outside Madang town, to encourage community members to prepare for the challenges associated with prolonged dry conditions.
Members of the Ohana Foundation, together with Mr and Miss DWU 2026 contestants, have led the initiative focused on helping the community understand what El Nino is, the science behind the weather phenomenon, and how it can affect water supply, food gardens, health, and everyday life.
During the awareness, the team also highlighted the importance of communities looking out for one another and taking practical steps to protect their families during the difficult season.
Malmal community leader Frankie Duadak told the awareness team that the community relies heavily on water wells as its main source of water.
He said the community has separate wells, with one used for drinking and another for washing clothes and other household activities.
Mr Duadak also explained that the current dry conditions have severely affected food gardens in the community.
He recalled the severe drought of 1997, saying the situation reminded him of the challenges communities faced at that time when food gardens and banana plants were badly affected.
Ms DWU 2026 Marcia Normal, explained to the community the importance of understanding El Nino and taking precautions to protect themselves.
“When we don't have enough water, we will hardly find water for drinking, cooking, and washing. We all rely on garden food, so when there is no rain, garden food will be affected,” she told the community.
Mr DWU 2026 Gini Sega, encouraged the people of Malmal to prepare ahead by finding suitable containers and drums to collect and safely store rainwater whenever rain comes.
He said proper water storage would help families have access to clean water for essential activities such as drinking and cooking during periods when water becomes scarce.
The founder and director of the Ohana Foundation and Female Vice President of the DWU Student Representative Council, Theresha Orere said the awareness was a student-led initiative aimed at empowering communities with knowledge during a difficult period.
She said that whilst community members received the information openly, one of the major concerns raised was the lack of institutional support reaching communities facing the impacts of El Nino.
She said awareness could encourage people to look after their water and prepare themselves, but there was also a bigger question about whether responsible authorities could provide practical relief and support to affected communities.
The foundation said students would like to do more to assist communities such as Malmal, but their capacity is limited, with knowledge and awareness being the main resources they can currently provide.
The awareness highlighted the importance of combining community preparedness and education with stronger institutional support to help vulnerable communities navigate the impacts of El Nino.