Behind the Butterflies - Michael Gari
The newest addition to KTF's Port Moresby team is Elizabeth Guka, 2020 Archer Leader and UPNG journalism graduate. Elly will be bringing you a look 'behind the butterflies' in a series of profiles with her colleagues, the extraordinary KTF PNG team. We hope you enjoy getting to know and love our incredible people.
A PASSION FOR EDUCATION
By Elizabeth Guka, KTF PNG Projects and Communications Coordinator
The desire to serve the community through using one’s skills and knowledge provides a sense of satisfaction for some. For Micheal Gari, it is this sense of satisfaction coupled with a passion for education that drives him to overcome any challenges to work in the teaching profession, teaching students in his local community as the principal for the Motu Koita Flexible Open Distance Education (FODE) Centre in Hanuabada.
The Motu Koita FODE Centre (MK FODE Centre) is operated by KTF in collaboration with the Motu Koita Assembly, Kina Bank and Black Swan International. The Centre takes in students from different villages along the Motu Koita region, home to the traditional landowners of Port Moresby. Michael hails from Elevala village, in Hanuabada, and this is his second year as Principal at the MK FODE Centre. The Centre currently has 160 students registered, with 13 students registered as grade 9, 75 students registered as grade 10, 25 as grade 11 and 47 as grade 12.
Michael’s journey teaching high school started when he undertook studies at the Goroka Teachers College (now University of Goroka) from 1975 to 1977. After graduating, he taught at several high schools before falling ill in 1995. It was in and out of hospitals for Michael, battling a health issue that resulted in him losing a kidney and forcing him to temporarily retire from teaching. In 2007, Michael sadly lost his wife, and had to take up the responsibility of looking after his five children, one of whom has special needs.
In 2008, it was a change of scene for Michael while continuing his commitment to his community, when he decided to get into politics. Contesting a seat in the Motu Koita Assembly (MKA) and was a runner up in his electorate. After the unsuccessful attempt, he contested again in 2013 and won a seat to proudly represent his people for the next five years.
Whilst working with the Motu Koita Assembly, Michael, with his experience in teaching, was identified as a possible candidate to take up the role at the new Motu Koita FODE Centre. Michael was called in by KTF for an interview for the position in March 2020. Michael recalls the interview process, describing it as a learning process for him.
“I was introduced to Sam Kaima, and he said that I had to have a Zoom interview. It came as a surprise to me because never in my life have I ever had an online interview with people overseas, and I had never been overseas in my life, and I told myself that I had to pull myself together and go through the interview. Although it was a new experience, I had to take it as a challenge.”
It was all a new experience that Michael had to overcome, which ended with a successful outcome. “The following Monday I was given the contract form, and that was it for me. I joined KTF the following week after my interview and since then KTF has being a family to me.”
It was always Michael’s passion to serve in education. He has always wanted to contribute by being an educator, especially in working with students.
“Despite my age (Michael is now 66 years young), I knew it was going to be a challenge, especially when I found out that I was (initially) going to be the only person running the center on a daily basis. About 80% of my time was spent with the students, engaging in the classroom, explaining to them about FODE. There were about 105 students during that time. It was challenging to the people, because FODE was a new thing to them, and I had to explain to them and help them understand.”
“I am a teacher by profession and I like working with people.”
When Michael opened up the MK FODE Centre, the locals in the community became very interested in the FODE program. Because the people did not know much about how FODE worked, Michael had to really help them to understand more about FODE. It was a new type of study program, and especially when the COVID-19 pandemic had hit PNG, it was also challenging for the students. However, Michael managed to find a way to counter this challenge by forming a partnership with the Badihagwa Secondary School, allowing the MK FODE students to take tutorial classes at the school in the evenings. The extra tutorials were a great help to the students and saw some of the FODE students scoring good grades for the subjects they undertook. The pandemic was not a barrier stopping the students from succeeding, and Michael had given them the best chance possible through the partnership with Badihagwa in assisting the students with the tutorial sessions every evening.
Michael believes that FODE is not a second chance. “We cannot say that FODE is a second chance. It is just another pathway for people who have not achieved their dreams in their educational life. They just have to be more determined”. Michael thinks that it is the job of the teachers to guide the students and to make sure that they see the reality of their dreams in their lives.
Michael feels privileged to be part of the KTF team and is very grateful, “I want to say thank you to KTF for employing me, especially during this time and age.” With Michael’s guidance, the MK FODE Centre has grown with increasing number of students who have already registered at the start of the academic year to undertake studies at the FODE Centre.