Delilah and Glenda [two technical officers] working for ATprojects working on the detailed costing of 12 large projects that need to be submitted to a tender that will close next week, the tender is being issued by the Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture that operates in the Morobe Province. This work has taken a number of weeks as it is as it is rather complicated, but we are heading towards the final costs and work programs.
ATprojects was formed in 1998 as an association governed by a constitution within the Papua New Guinea “Association Incorporation Act”. We are based in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, but works throughout PNG. Our aim is to enable rural people to use appropriate technologies which give them more control over their lives and which contribute to the sustainable development of their communities.
ATprojects provides a number of program development products and is one of the few organizations in PNG offering practical technical support at a district level. We also offer a range of development products and services, including a training and conference facility.
What is appropriate technology?
Appropriate technology is a way of thinking about change, recognizing that technologies can evolve along different paths toward different ends. It includes the belief that rural communities can have a role in deciding what their future will be like, and that the choice of technologies is an important part of this. It also includes the recognition that technologies can embody cultural biases and sometimes have political and distribution effects that go far beyond a strictly economic evaluation. “AT” therefore involves the use for technologies that have for example, beneficial effects on income distribution, human development and environmental quality.
Part of ATprojects’ development strategy is to start with and build on locally available skills and materials, based on the initiative and full participation of local people. This should mean that local needs will be met more effectively, that mistakes will be on a scale that are understandable and correctable, and that technological and social changes that follow are more likely to harmonies with evolving local traditions and culture.
Our Vision:
To be a family centred organization which supports the development of young PNG professionals who are ready to contribute to the physical well being of the poorer members of our community. We will be the leading appropriate technology based organization in the South Pacific. We will be financially sound and have infrastructure capacity compatible with our goals.
Our Values:
Staff of ATprojects value:
• Family centredness, Self-reliance and self-determination
• Good role models behaving in a manner that reflects well on ATprojects
• A work ethic that achieves a high standard of manufactured product
• Personal and professional growth
• Developing people who work harmoniously and respectfully, meeting challenges together
• Transparency, integrity, honesty – serving the best interests of the organization and the individual
• Full and meaningful participation and supporting others to help themselves
• Partnership and cooperation with donors and other key stakeholders
• Helping wherever our products can be of benefit.
• Working in a learning and knowledge environment.
• Appropriateness, equity, affordability and accessibility of all our technologies
Our Mission:
All ATprojects programs will use appropriate technologies to assist poorer members of our community to improve their standard of living. We will use a participative design approach to develop suitable projects and products for distribution & dissemination throughout PNG and the South Pacific where possible in partnership with other development programs.
For more information on our work and the services we offer, please contact us on telephone +675 7224 4690 or e-mail us on steve@atprojects-png.org
This week one of ATprojects Wash teams made a presentation to the Governor of the New Ireland Province Sir Julius Chan and Mr Sandeep Biswas the CEO of Newcrest Mining Ltd. The presentation took place in Kavieng and highlighted to current project at Nokon Village in the south of the province. The presentation was made by Arthur Layton [Project Manager] and Marina Schkot-Casas [Gender & H&H Adviser].
After a 5 day delay our container for the Nokon Village project was finally unloaded from the ship yesterday. With the help of a Box Loader we were able to locate the container near the Newcrest Office in Kavieng. Also the same day we were able to load our project truck [that arrived in the same ship] and today very early in the morning the truck and 3 staff took off for the 7 hour drive to the project site. And this afternoon 3 other staff arrive in Kavieng. 
A few weeks ago the ATprojects Manus Team went to a remote Primary School in Manus to hand over 3 new UD Toilets [see picture] recently constructed by ATprojects as part of a large Australian Government project. The team, including Project Manager Mr David Faunt who had an excellent meeting with the community, who are very pleased with the work completed and the attitude of our construction team. In fact they are a good community for future projects – due to their isolated location, and their attitude towards development assistance. 
This week we received the project contract to start work on the water and sanitation project at Nokon Village in New Ireland Project. This project is being funded by the Newcrest Tax Credit Scheme and will see the construction of over 90 household toilets and 14 rain water catchments as well as toilets and a water supply at a local school. The project is planned to take a little over 4 months and will be completed by a wash team from ATprojects. The picture below shows two young New Ireland children collecting water from another complete water supply, this time funded by Nautilus Minerials. 
Here at the National Appropriate Technology Centre we have a new training venue that is a little different, and we think a little better than the rest. It does not provide hotel type accommodation, western style food or easy access to shops, clubs and bars [please note that we do not allow alcohol in the centre] that may distract your course participants.
It does however provide inexpensive shared accommodation, good PNG style food and an environment that is safe, quiet and promotes learning. It also provides your participants with the opportunity to see and use a range of technologies that are being promoted by ATprojects in its many rural development programs.
Located about 20 minutes outside of Goroka (and a 35 minute pleasant walk to the Mt. Gahavisuka National Park), the centre can accommodate 24 people (we can fit in a few more!), with a large classroom / meeting area and spacious dinning area. Set in the heart of beautiful surroundings the building demonstrates many of the technologies and materials used at the centre. For example the building is supplied with electricity 24 hours a day by the centre’s pico hydro power plant,
Also if required it is also possible to hire our well equipped workshop to support the more practical aspects of a training program. We are also able to help you run your training by providing experienced trainers in a number of areas, for more information just contact us when making your booking. So if you are looking for a training venue that is away from the noise and distractions of an urban environment, our facility could be what you are looking for.
By Janet Rowaro
The iRAMP fuel and maintenance trip to the Western Province in the beginning of December this year was an eye opener for me and my co-worker Sabi Auwo. Flying into three remote airstrips in Western Province (Debepari, Fuma and Mougulu) via MAF to deliver fuel on the 09th December 2015 was quite an experience. My trip to these three airstrips was because the program’s mechanic Sabi was not feeling well on that day. So I took that opportunity to actually fly into those airstrips in which I have heard so much about from the other project officers who went there for the fuel and maintenance trips.
Ten minutes after the plane left Kiunga Airport, I peeped out of the window of the small MAF (Caravan) plane to get a glimpse of the landscape below. A mesmerising horizon of vast, green and swampy vegetation with endless canopies of trees came clear and the rising smoke from the gardens fires was the only indication of human habitation.
It was roughly after 20 minutes when the first airstrip (Debepari) came to view. As the plane landed and came to a halt, I realised that there were quite a number of people from the nearby villages of the airstrip who heard the sound of the plane and made their way to the parking area of the airstrip. When we touched down at the airstrip, Sibert the Airstrip Maintenance Volunteer (AMV) was already standing on the side of the airstrip with five empty 20 litre fuel containers. With the help of the two pilots and the AMVs plus the locals we filled the empty containers and while I did the lawn mower inspection. After spending 40 minutes on ground we flew off to the next airstrip which was Fuma.
Flying to Fuma from Debepari took about 15 minutes. Again we were greeted by a group of young people, especially kids. Just seeing their smiling faces reminded me that no matter how disadvantaged these kids are, they are content with what they have. But evidently they are missing out on a lot of real tangible government services since their villages are not linked by road.
After we were done with fuel delivery in Fuma, we flew to Mougulu which is much more developed than the other two airstrips. In each of the three airstrips we took approximately about 40 minutes on the ground and then flew back to Kiunga at around 2pm.
In all the three airstrips that we flew into, we were greeted by people especially, kids from the surrounding villages that came to the airstrip upon hearing the sound of the plane. They came not because they were expecting a visitor or a cargo but upon hearing the sound of the plane which is their only means of transportation in the area.
The smiling faces of the people that I came across in these airstrips made me feel satisfied of the little things I do in my career, especially knowing that my input in this program is making a huge impact on the lives of these people.
It is only through maintaining these airstrips that the locals in this part of the country are able to see some form basic government services in their area. When these airstrips are maintained planes are able to land to do medivac’s, fly in school supplies, medical supplies and teachers and health officers into these remote locations. Thanks to the Rural Airstrips Agency (RAA) and its partner ATprojects for ensuring that these airstrips are maintained on a regular basis for planes to land.
One of the great things about working at ATprojects is seeing development taking place before your eyes. It only takes small steps to improve someones life, and often its about developing an appropriate technology and training people in how to use it. Our “Round Loo” is just one of the many produces we at ATprojects have designed and developed and in the Eastern Highlands Province there are more than 6,000 families using these improved VIP toilets. The picture shows what CAN be done!
ATprojects Blogs 