Country Women's Association alive and well in Madang.

If you've been to Madang, chances are you might have walked right past the CWA Guest House in town without noticing it. It's nestled under a huge rain tree, right at the waters edge but not too many people know about it- unless you're hard pressed and need a clean, safe and affordable place to lay down for the night.

That's how I found the place. It was 2012 and I had taken my little family (the hubby and my four year old at the time), on a spontaneous annual recreational leave. You see, East Sepik was my leave destination (my mother's home province) but once we got there, staying in one place took it's toll and I decided on buying three boat tickets to Madang. A week in Wewak and we were off via Lutheran Shipping to Madang. We had arrived tired and needed a place to rest when a friend suggested CWA Madang. We had no choice- there was a huge meeting in Madang at the time and most other accommodation venues were booked out. It was the best decision- clean, safe and affordable right in the heart of Madang, perfect for our short stay.

Present day, it still looks as it did in 2012. Thought to be the only active provincial CWA branch there is aside from Port Moresby, in Papua New Guinea, it's been localized and made to work for local women and their children as opposed to their original intention.

I walked into it's old but well kept premises just last week and was greeting by a group of women huddled together, deep in discussion as to what they should bring with them for the Kindergarten Lo Peles program in the Abanob area the week after. I spot a few sewn sanitary pads on the table which interests me. I'm later told it's for their Mun Malo program, teaching rural women how to sew reusable sanitary pads that a cost saving. And they do much much more, check them out: https://alilbitofpickleinpng.wordpress.com/2015/03/08/madang-country-womens-association/

General Secretary CWA, Janet Philemon who's seen better years of CWA Madang tell us, "We've registered with IPA in 2007 to localize all our operations and we continue to do volunteerism in parts of Madang where our programs exist. It's hard work but we put to good use whatever money is made from out CWA Guest Hosue to serve these communities."

Tabitha Waka, CWA Project Manager organizes training under these programs for early learning curriculum and women's groups and also has a passion for volunteerism.

"We don't have support like we need but the little we have, we stretch it out to run our programs which we take pride in. That's what CWA is about and that's where our strength lies."

In the colonial days, the Country Women's Association adapted from Australia, was extended to Papua New Guinea to cater to wives and children of working expats in the region.

They worked in rural Papua New Guinea administering posts, delivering services and spreading civilization that they every now and again, needed some form of reminder of where they were from and the minimal creature comforts they had left behind. It was where they rested, or were housed to access health services in towns, before heading back out into the rurals.

These days, CWA is open to all and without actually saying it, is as historical as they come. 

Many people walk past it everyday without realizing the great work they continue to do in Madang, and although it is of little consequence these days, the communities that receive their work and embrace it know just how important they are to exist and operate in Madang.

They've over 20 projects underway in Madang District and Philemon says it's been a good ride so far.

If you're ever in Madang, book a stay in the CWA Guest House. It's rooms are either just a bed or a bed and shower with all cooking in a common kitchen. Madang Market is just a minutes walk away.

The bigger picture is that spending money at the guest house means you help rural communities receive solid education foundation programs through their early childhood learning programs and see rural women learn how to be cost effective through sewing training programs.

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Pictures supplied by CWA, Madang.