Hela Education Services launches Tribal Fighting Module

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) proudly announces the launch of the Tribal Fighting Module by the Hela Education Services, a pioneering educational endeavor aimed at fostering understanding among the younger generation and mitigating the humanitarian impact of tribal fights.

Launched in Tari town on January 26, 2024, this innovative project serves as a comprehensive guide for teachers instructing Grades 7-10, covering a spectrum of crucial topics including restraint, traditional knowledge, humanitarian principles, the repercussions of tribal conflicts, anger management, and protection of vulnerable individuals and basic services such as health and education.

Addressing the unpredictable nature of tribal fights in Hela Province, Anna Lakaio, the Provincial Guidance and Counseling Officer and Chair of the Tribal Fighting Module Steering Committee, emphasized the severity of the humanitarian consequences.

“Among various module topics, we aim to equip students with anger management and conflict resolution skills, empowering them with alternatives to violence,” she stated.

The module will undergo piloting in two secondary schools and three junior high schools, with careful monitoring of its impact before wider adoption across the province.

Comprising four distinct strands – Sources of Law, Tribal Fighting: Causes and Effects, Anger Management Techniques, and Conflict Resolution Skills – the module will be delivered by Personal Development and Guidance teachers.

Lorena Martin Redondo, Head of Sub Delegation at ICRC Mount Hagen, highlighted the invaluable contribution of the steering committee’s traditional wisdom and the ICRC’s extensive experience in Hela Province, which culminated in a culturally sensitive educational resource tailored to the province’s unique challenges.

She expressed the ICRC’s vision for the Tribal Fighting Module as a catalyst for positive change, adaptable to the diverse cultural contexts of tribal violence in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea.

“We anticipate widespread adoption of this educational initiative, fostering harmonious and conflict-free societies,” Redondo added, acknowledging the dedication and enthusiasm of the Tribal Fighting Module Steering Committee comprised of committed teachers.