IF A MOTHER CAN DO IT YOU CAN DO IT: The Truth About "Life is Hard" in PNG

The Pacific Guardian

We hear it often, don't we? "Life is hard." It's a phrase that echoes through our towns and villages. But I look around, and I see something different. I see strength, resilience, and an untapped potential that lies beneath our very feet.

Think about the mama in Lae, selling her kru-sako by the roadside. She's not waiting for handouts. She's harnessing the resources around her, turning the abundance of our land into a means of livelihood. She understands a fundamental truth: our land is our wealth.

Every Papua New Guinean, man or woman, has a connection to the land. It's an inheritance, a birthright, and a source of boundless opportunity. So, when we say "life is hard," are we truly facing insurmountable obstacles, or are we overlooking the very foundation of our prosperity?

Let's be real. We sometimes fall into the trap of blaming external factors – the government, the economy, you name it. But what about our own agency? What about our own initiative?

Our land is fertile, our resources are plentiful. If you didn't find your path in formal education, don't despair. The land is your university. It's a place where you can learn practical skills, build a sustainable business, and create a prosperous future for yourself and your family.

Imagine the possibilities:

• Cultivating our gardens: Growing fresh produce for our families and local markets.

• Exploring sustainable agriculture: Utilizing traditional knowledge and modern techniques to maximize yields.

• Developing small businesses: Processing our crops, creating handicrafts, and offering unique local products.

• Embracing eco-tourism: Showcasing the beauty and diversity of our land to the world.

These are not just dreams; they are achievable realities. They are the stories of countless Papua New Guineans who have turned their connection to the land into a source of empowerment.

It's time to shift our mindset. It's time to stop waiting for someone else to solve our problems. It's time to take ownership of our destinies.

Let's dig our hands into the soil, plant the seeds of our future, and watch our prosperity grow. Let's show the world the true strength and resilience of the Papua New Guinean spirit.

Stop blaming, start doing. Your land awaits. What will you create?