Local women’s group supply face masks to governor

Among the challenges brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the business operated by the Gabagaba Women’s Group in Central Province is a story of adapting for success.

The group, supported by KTF and the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP)’s PNG-Australia Partnership, has changed their business model to produce a product in high demand – reusable face masks. With the recent acceleration of cases in Port Moresby, supplies of quality, environmentally friendly fabric masks are vital and limited.

The Gabagaba Women's Group have recently switched to the production of masks as an alternative to their usual female hygiene packs with technical support from KTF in the form of training aligned with advice from the CDC and WHO, high-quality fabrics and materials and COVID-19 awareness and education booklets. The group have quickly mastered the new patterns and are producing as many masks as their supply chain allows, producing over 500 masks to date with many more to come.

Leveraging local networks to identify customers for their products, the group has successfully sold all masks produced to customers including colleges, businesses and the Hon. Robert Agarobe, Governor of Central Province.  A vocal advocate for COVID-19 prevention protocols and local businesses, Governor Agarobe placed an order on behalf of the provincial government when he heard of the project.

Vaporo Kondolo, Gabagaba Women’s Group Sales Manager was delighted with the order, “It means so much to be producing and selling the masks to Governor because we are helping to protect the people he will donate the masks to.

“I am grateful to KTF because I am learning also new skills and I can turn these skills into an SME in the future.”

 Congratulations to the dedicated women behind the fledgling business. We look forward to seeing their start-up business continue to evolve to meet customer needs and grow.

Gabagaba is one of five Women’s Groups supported by KTF who have collectively produced almost 2,000 masks in response to COVID-19-related demand.