Pawa Meri - Role Models to Inspire

Pawa Meri (Powerful Women) is a six-part documentary series portraying the lives of six Papua New Guinean women who have each achieved extraordinary things in life. The women come from diverse backgrounds and represent a variety of themes relevant to development in PNG. Interviews with the women and those close to them create an intimate portrait of their achievements. As a collection of six, the filmic biographies are an important record of women’s lives in contemporary PNG. Susil Nelson is a corporate manager in Port Moresby juggling career and family whilst working to share her knowledge and experience with young female students. Gina Baidam from the remote community of Severimabu on the Fly River, is determined to bring a birthing clinic to her community to prevent mothers and babies from dying during childbirth. In Bougainville, Catholic nun Sister Lorraine Garasu was instrumental in the peace and reconciliation process during and after the civil war and continues tirelessly to help people rebuild their lives. Similarly energetic, Miriam Potopi is one of the first female village magistrates in Manus who has overcome many challenges to maintain a leadership role in her community. Jennifer Baing Waiko from the Markham Valley presents her leadership skills to her community by working in agriculture and preservation of culture, as well as contesting for the national election. Finally, Rita Karre started small, selling food on the streets of Goroka before fulfilling her dream to own a restaurant. Rita’s statement sums up the series when she says: “if I can do it, you can do it!. This series of inspiring stories showcases contemporary life and the challenges women face. As the protagonists of the Pawa Meri series deal with day‐to-day challenges, their positive outlook on life is encouraging to viewers, while the variety of stories makes the series an important resource for learning in PNG and the wider Pacific. Additionally, six female PNG filmmakers have been mentored as part of Pawa Meri, generating a new enthusiasm for media production and filmmaking in PNG and ensuring appropriate representation of female leaders. The directors, talent and film crew come from all over PNG, making it a truly remarkable project covering a wide range of issues. Pawa Meri is an exciting series of films celebrating the unique role women play in contemporary Papua New Guinea.