On June 15, over one hundred people attended the opening of the Agricultural Hub building in Hako. The Bougainville Minister for Economic Development, the Hon Robert Tsika Tulsa, and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade representative Mr Jeffrey Kop, both spoke inspirationally at the event. They joined the women of the collective, village chiefs, faith leaders, participants in the agricultural training program, their families and PiCCA Directors Stephanie Boldeman, Steve Maguire and Warren McMillan in a ceremonial rice harvest and a singing dancing procession accompanying a symbolic collection of crops to the Hub. Stephanie cut the ribbon to formally open the building which has been delivered as one part of the project partnership between the Hako Women’s Collective and PiCCA, and funded under the Australian Aid Friendship Grants.
