19/04/2026
Last Saturday, we had the honor to attend the Bougainville Voices panel discussion at UPNG!
Special thanks to Edwin and Deviyani, from United Nations Population Fund Papua New Guinea
This initiative is a powerful example of how grassroots data and participatory dialogue can drive real change. By collecting real-time insights from all 13 districts of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), this project ensures that the voices of the community—especially our youth—are at the heart of sustainable peace and development.
The discussion was incredibly insightful, especially as it touched on the Constituency Independence Readiness Programme (CIRP) and how empowerment, gender equality, and human rights serve as the foundation for the road ahead.
A huge thank you to the distinguished panelists for sharing their expertise and vision:
*Stephanie Elijah – Secretary for the Department of Independence Mission Implementation (DIMI).
*Deviyani Dixit – Peacebuilding Manager at UNFPA.
*Rebecca Kossin – Advocacy Coordinator at the Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation.
Feeling inspired by the collective effort to identify challenges and create local solutions for a brighter future! ✨
The Bougainville Voices Open Panel Discussion was held yesterday at UPNG, providing students with an informative discussion on key issues affecting Bougainville.
The initiative builds on a 2025 project facilitated by the Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation in Bougainville, with support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and in coordination with the Autonomous Region of Bougainville Government (ABG).
The session featured panelists Ms. Stephanie Elijah (DIMI), Ms. Deviyani Laxmi Dixit (UNFPA) and Ms. Rebecca Kessin (Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation), with UNFPA Representative Ms. Saira Shameem also in attendance.
The discussion highlighted findings from 26 participatory community dialogues conducted across the 13 districts in AROB.
This focused on key development areas on the ABG six benchmarks under the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA):
• Law and order
• Governance
• Social Services
• Human Development
• Economy Development
• Health and Standards of Living
A meaningful step in bringing Bougainville conversations to students.
https://sites.google.com/view/bougainville-voices/home