Grass Skirt Project

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐍𝐆. 💡 Rugby league was introduced to PNG in the late 1940s by Australian soldiers stationed there during and after World War II. This introduction had several fascinating outcomes: 𝟏. 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Rugby league quickly became the national sport in PNG, spreading across all 22 provinces. The game's popularity grew so much that it's often said PNG is "rugby mad". 𝟐. 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The sport became deeply ingrained in PNG culture, with people playing in small villages using makeshift balls and goals. This grassroots adoption showcases how the sport became a part of everyday life. 𝟑. 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐥: Interestingly, rugby league's physicality and aggression resonated with PNG's historical tradition of tribal warfare. While actual tribal fighting is now illegal, rugby league provides a socially acceptable outlet for this cultural trait. 𝟒. 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Despite its popularity, women's rugby league wasn't introduced until much later. The PNG Orchids, the national women's team, played their first international match only in 2017. 𝟓. 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥: The sport has become so significant that it's now being used as a diplomatic and development tool. Australia's recent proposal to include a PNG team in the National Rugby League (NRL) is seen as a way to strengthen bilateral ties and potentially block China's influence in the region. 𝟔. 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: Major sporting events, including rugby matches, can trigger significant economic activities. 𝟕. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬: The immense popularity of rugby league has overshadowed other sports, including rugby union. Despite rugby union being established in PNG (with 8,520 registered players and 57 clubs), it remains far less popular than rugby league. These unintended consequences demonstrate how a sport introduced by foreign soldiers has become a central part of PNG's national identity, affecting its culture, politics, and economy in ways that could not have been predicted at its introduction. Source by Literature Review (2009)- chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://lnkd.in/gEVXRpQu

We are thrilled to spotlight Tahina Booth, an alumnus of our 2023 Emerging Leaders Dialogue! Tahina is the Founder of the Grass Skirt Project, a pioneering organisation addressing gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea through sports and wellness initiatives. A former tri-international elite athlete in rugby league, Olympic weightlifting, and powerlifting, Tahina brings a unique blend of sports expertise and social advocacy. She serves on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Pacific Women Lead Governance Board, overseeing a $170 million investment into gender equality. Key programs under her leadership include the Hevea Cup & Wellness Expo, Gymbox, and the 10 Million Strong pilot leadership program, each aimed at fostering community development, gender justice, and individual empowerment. If you are also interested in strengthening the Australia-PNG relationship, apply to the 2025 Emerging Leaders Dialogue using the below link. https://lnkd.in/gSafsda2

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world. ADB commemorated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women with the event, 'Transforming Masculinities to End Gender-Based Violence' featuring a panel discussion on interventions, research, and insights to promote healthy, peaceful, and nonviolent masculinities in Asia and the Pacific. 🟠 Watch the discussion 🟠 Read resources 🟠 View the visual summary 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gApR3hBe Development Asia, Asian Development Bank (ADB) #GenderEquality

Just before the holiday break, AIDN sent out our annual international development, philanthropy and global issues themed “Summer Reading and Listening Lists” for 2024 ☀️ 🎧 Have you checked out the "Summer Listening List" yet?! https://lnkd.in/gkRy9WcG Based on our 2024 episodes of #Philanthropod hosted by Anubha Rawat, episodes include: 👉 “Nourishing Rwanda: the story of Solid'Africa” with Isabelle Kamariza (President and Founder of Solid’ Africa). 👉 “Fortifying flour and harnessing hope” with Felix Brooks-church (Co-Founder and CEO of Sanku). 👉 “Africans creating African solutions: disability inclusion” with Maria Omare (Executive Director of The Action Foundation). 👉 “High-love, low-cost health care” with Sarah Rejman (Founder of Kafika House). 👉 “Pharma for Good: Inside Medicines Development for Global Health” with Mark Sullivan AO (Managing Director and Founder of Medicines Development for Global Health). 👉 “Unearthing and investing in African-change-makers” with Andy Bryant (Executive Director at Segal Family Foundation). 👉 “From growth to redundancy: Rethinking international charities with Weh Yeoh” (Author of Redundant Charities).  👉 “Scaling for impact: Safeena Husain’s journey to educate girls across India” featuring Safeena Husain (Founder of Educate Girls India).  👉“Uniting sport and gender justice in PNG” with Tahina Booth (Founder and Managing Director of Grass Skirt Project). #podcast #globaldevelopment #impact #health #equality #gender #nutrition #disabilityinclusion

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 To all the women who have been told that they are: too loud, too emotional, too ambitious, too difficult, too bossy, too much, We hear you. We believe in you. We stand with you. Let's fight the stereotypes together.

Wishing you all a Meri Krismas and a Hepi Nu Yia! 🌟🎉 As we wrap up 2024, we want to express our gratitude to our incredible sponsors, donors, and community. Your unwavering support has made this year of growth, impact, and learning possible. Thank you for being part of our journey. Our team will be taking a well-deserved break to rest, spend time with loved ones, and recharge. We'll return refreshed, stronger, and more focused for another impactful year ahead. Here’s to an amazing 2025! 🎄✨

Sir Brian Bell Foundation and Brian Bell Group Christmas Wish Tree Appeal on now! The Sir Brian Bell Foundation Wish Tree Appeal supports many worthy charities and causes across PNG, with 100% of the funds raised distributed to those in need across the country. The Brian Bell Group will donate K2 directly to the Christmas Wish Tree Appeal when our customers spend K100 in store. Alternatively, customers can purchase baubles for only K2 in store with 100% of funds raised going directly to the charities supported by the Sir Brian Bell Foundation. Thank you to our customers for your continued support. 

🌟 Celebrating Young Changemakers! This week, Grass Skirt Project attended the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office essay competition in Port Moresby. Meet Leah-Marie Uvia, one of two winners, whose essay on "Why are women’s rights essential for PNG’s development?" captivated the judges! 📝 Leah-Marie’s powerful vision highlights how gender equality strengthens families, boosts economic prosperity, and amplifies women’s voices in decision-making. As a winner, Leah-Marie will experience a day in the life of a diplomat next year! 🇵🇬✨ Read her inspiring essay below, thank you for your permission to share your work Leah-Marie. Let’s continue to champion gender equality and empower women in PNG! 💪🏽 Thank you to UK Ambassador to PNG, Anne Demarco and her team for celebrating these young essayist, pawa meri’s. 👏🏾

Giving back to the game! 🏀🇵🇬 Christian Pang, NBL athlete and Lae Biscuit ambassador, is hosting a free basketball camp in Port Moresby on Dec 22 at Sir John Guise Stadium. Open to young athletes aged 12-25, this is a chance to level up skills and chase dreams! Big thanks to Lae Biscuit Company Limited, Popo Plantation Resort, The Sanctuary Hotel, and Brian Kerle Basketball Academy for their support. Register via @CPANG21 on Instagram.

𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. Sport has the power to change lives, but the reality is that girls and women continue to face barriers that would never be accepted if they were boys or men. At the launch of the Her Sport Foundation, Mohammed, Her Sport’s co-founder, shared his 'why.' "If we say we love sport the way we do and understand the value, friendships, and sense of belonging it brings, then we should want everyone to have that same opportunity, that same feeling." Growing up in a house full of boys, Mohammed might not seem like the obvious advocate for women in sport. But the truth is, that’s no excuse. We all have mothers, grandmothers and some have daughters, nieces, or cousins. That should be motivation enough. He wasn’t exposed to the everyday realities that girls and women face in sport until he started truly listening and seeking to understand. The reality is if we love sport like the way we say we do, it means fighting for everyone to belong. In recent years, we’ve seen high-profile male allies like Andy Murray, Siya Kolisi, Steph Curry, and Brian O'Driscoll use their platforms to advocate for equal opportunities for girls and women in sport. Their actions remind us: you don’t have to be a woman to want to see change. ___ If you want to support what we are doing consider donating or becoming a Her Sport MVP and #DoItForHer https://lnkd.in/eWZBNdmn