Empowering Communities Through Early Childhood Education: A New Partnership in PNG
In a shared commitment to empowering communities through Integral Human Development (IHD), the Pacific-Australia Youth Association Inc (PAYA) and Romen Grammar Academy (RGA) have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen Early Childhood (ECH) and Elementary Education in Papua New Guinea.
This collaboration, effective from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026, marks a year-long journey of training, mentorship, and community empowerment. While the MoU is non-binding, both PAYA and RGA have pledged to work together in the spirit of mutual respect and a shared vision for quality education for PNG’s youngest learners.
Our Shared Goals
The partnership aims to:
Deliver a 2-week ECH training program for community members.
Support a 3-month classroom internship program, giving participants hands-on teaching experience at RGS.
Mobilize volunteer expertise through PAYA’s network to enrich the training and mentorship process.
Raise awareness of the initiative both locally and online to inspire broader community participation.
Why This Matters
Integral Human Development in early learning is about shaping the whole child — intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. By equipping passionate educators with skills, mentorship, and real classroom experience, this partnership invests in a stronger foundation for the next generation.
Together, PAYA and RGA believe that when communities work hand in hand, education becomes more than just learning — it becomes a movement for change.
Celebrating New Beginnings in Early Childhood Education
At the close of a transformative two-week training program, PAYA and RGA proudly hosted a Mini Graduation Ceremony to honor the dedication and achievements of all participants.
Teachers who successfully completed the program were certified by both organizations, each receiving a Certificate of Accomplishment recognizing their ability to deliver inclusive, child-centered, and transformative education. This milestone marked not just the conclusion of training, but the beginning of a renewed commitment to Early Childhood Education across East New Britain Province.
The skills, knowledge, and passion cultivated during this collaboration will ripple through classrooms, families, and communities — planting seeds of transformation for generations to come.
Inspiring Words & Lasting Memories
The ceremony featured a keynote speech by Mrs. Phillie Marai, Co-CEO of PAYA, who reminded teachers of the importance of “seeing the world through the eyes of one child.” Her message encouraged educators to nurture with love, patience, and purpose.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Mary Romen Julai, Founder and Administrator of Romen Grammar Academy, congratulated the teachers and sent them off with warm words of encouragement as they embarked on their journey in Early Childhood Education.
Why This Partnership Matters for PNG
Early Childhood Education is often taken for granted, yet it is the very foundation of every child’s future. These are the years when curiosity is strongest, when little hands and minds are open to learning, and when the right guidance can change the course of a life.
When teachers are trained to see the world through the eyes of one child, they learn to meet each child where they are — guiding them with patience, teaching with love, and inspiring with hope. A single teacher who understands this can shape not only a classroom, but an entire community.
Through this MoU, PAYA and RGA are not simply running a training program. They are starting a movement for better education — one classroom, one teacher, and one child at a time.
A Vision for the Future
Picture a child in East New Britain Province walking into school with a smile, welcomed by a teacher who has been mentored, trained, and inspired to help them grow not only in knowledge, but also in confidence, kindness, and resilience. Now imagine that happening in school after school, community after community, across Papua New Guinea.
That is the future this partnership is working to create.
This MoU is more than paper and signatures. It is a promise — that no child’s potential will be left behind, and no teacher will stand without the support and tools they need to inspire. It is a commitment to building a generation of young Papua New Guineans who are ready to learn, lead, and lift their communities.
When that happens, we all win — because when we invest in our children, we invest in the future of our nation.
