Last Sunday…

I was walking home from the office after catching up on some email, some
blogging etc… and I bumped into about eight lads, they were walking
towards me and as we approached each other – a couple of the boys bowed
- yes bowed!
It turns out that they attend kickboxing classes at Tent Siti (just up
the road from UNITECH – heading away from town). They all knew me and
are basically appreciative of my involvement with the kickboxing schools
in the Lae area.
The bowing thing is done in martial arts between student and teacher. It
is basically a sign of respect. Eventhough I am not their fighting
teacher they still bow to me. I suppose because of the interest I have
shown in their schools and the support that I have given since the
beginning of this year. Also, I happen to be their Patron (and that's
not as in Patron Saint – far from it!!).
The lads were basically wandering around campus searching for the
residence of the Registrar (within academia the Registrar is one of the
king pins) – they held a letter which they had typed up, requesting
donations or funding for a kickboxing tournament towards the end of this
year.
There are times when I wish that I was rich. Rich enough to help people
out here and there and still have enough money left over at the end of
the day to support myself and maintain a reasonable standard of living.
Well guess what, I'm not rich (in bucks anyway) and the reality is that
I just manage to survive on the income I earn here at UNITECH. There is
always a little bit to give away now and then to folks in genuine need.
Unfortunately, here in PNG, many times it comes down to money. Don't you
love it… money. Money… money… money…
So these lads that I bumped last Sunday… they're after some money so
that they can compete in a kickboxing tournament later on in December.
We spoke for about an hour. They shared some of the things that they had
already been doing, such as going to the bush, collecting firewood and
selling it. A couple of the senior guys are planning on knocking on a
few business doors around town. Basically, they are showing initiave as
far as dealing with their predicament.
I got no spare cash to give away…
Still ways of helping though !!
This afternoon (Thursday) I head into the Tent Siti settlement and meet
with about 60-70 youths from both clubs in town. We are going to discuss
ideas as to how they can go about raising the bucks. Certainly not my
area of expertise but how can one not lend a helping hand to these
youths that are trying their dammnest to have a go. How can one not lend
a helping hand in some way. Even if all I do this afternoon is give them
the moral support and encouragement to persist with their task, I think
that my trip into Tent Siti and the meeting with the youths will have
been a success.
I really do have a dream….
To do this helping out shit – fulltime!