A POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP IGNORED: SIL - AITAPE

 SIL- Summer Institute of Linguistics has done a tremendous job in PNG. Since it's establishment in the country in 1956, SIL has touched and positively influence countless lives. SIL started in the country by establishing a center in Ukarumpa in Eastern Highlands in 1956 and their work gained momentum from

then on (https://www.silpacific.org). 

In 1980s, they decided to expand their base and influence in West Sepik. In 1987 with the idea of establishing a base in Aitape, SIL through Steve Withiker begin the initial work of establishing a station in Arop village along the west coast of Aitape. Although the establishment was a success, they have to start over again when the "Tidal Wave" struck west coast on the 17th of July 1998. With the destruction of their first post, they moved further inland with Arop One village when the village was relocated further inland away from the coast. 

The SIL local team of trainers and literacy personals comprised of individuals from both Lumi and Aitape areas. The SIL so far has contributed immensely to Aitape-Lumi District in areas of linguistics, translation, Christianity and the gospel. They are currently working on:

 1.Translating Elin Language 

2.Translating Onele Language 

3. Onele Language Bible 

4. Elin Language Bible

 5. Other things. 

The Institution also provide employment to the locals who are engaged as Elin and Onele language consultants, translators, literacy trainers and so forth--right throughout the district. Thus SIL has contributed silently to achieving certain "key result areas (KRA's)" of development in our district. 

They have been faithfully serving our district even without recognition and support from the District and the province wide. In an interview with an expatriate SIL Personnel, one of the major setback experienced by SIL "is the lack of acknowledgement and partnership by the local government authorities". They believe that with a good partnership with the local authorities, more outcomes and output can be achieved in their line of specialty. 

Reflection

In retrospect of the potential development partners and untapped and unrecognized partners in the form of SIL and others that we have had so far, the questions are mind boggling. How can we as a district and province capitalize on such opportunities and potential partners to effect change? What can we do? In

what ways can we utilize the opportunities presented? How can we make use of the potential partnerships that are ours to lose? 

Conclusion

As the day dawns and and day kicks in with the promise of the imminent return of the dusk and the potent night lurking behind the horizon, change is ours to effect and ours to lose. The future is now. It is now or never. Awake and arise oh sons and daughters of this land for the night is vanishing and the dawn is at hand. 

Reference 

1. https://www.silpacific.org 

2. https://www.silpng.org 

3. Dominic Pusai-- Onele Translation team- Arop