Luman Hipakoko: A Place to find help

HWC has built and now operates the first community services centre in  Haku Constituency (northern Buka Island) on a secured surveyed block of land in Ngalkobul village. 
​The first building (on the right) opened in June 2016 and holds the library and reading public access area, from which HWC provides Office Services for the general public as well as its own office administration. It also holds a "Meri Seif Haus" where HWC provides emergency assistance to clients experiencing Family and Sexual Violence as part of the HWC Family Referral Service.
Luman Hipakoko, the second building, opened in November 2017 and   includes:
  • a room to conduct large meetings and training;
  • a new kitchen to cater for functions;
  • electricity (using a generator housed behind the building) and water tanks;
  • a bathroom with shower and flush toilet (septic tank), accessible by people with disabilities (and for  women and children using the Safe House); and
  • a canteen to sell food, drinks and stationery items.
The facilities help HWC to make its activities self-sustaining, since it can earn money from renting the meeting space and providing catering to other organisations, sale of food and other items from the canteen. 

Making the Haus kuk (traditional kitchen)
Hako Women's Collective gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the many organisations and individuals who have contributed money, resources or time and effort to the building project. Read more
To accomplish the building itself, HWC took every economic measure possible to honour the sacrificial giving of so many individual Australian supporters. We had no money for contractors, so we supervised the whole building project with our own members husbands, fathers, uncles and keen Haku youth who had some experience in vocational building and plumbing courses.
The building has been finished with attention to detail that reflects the love and pride of the building teams, the joy expressed by everyone associated with this successful project. Read more
Luman Hipakoko opening: 4 November 2017. 
Songs were written and performed by Bamboo Bands for the official opening which was attended by 4 people representing overseas funders, 2 AVI Country Team staff, and crowds of Community leaders, Village Chiefs, Government officials and women members.
HWC members and the whole Landowner Clan hosted the feast in celebration of a great victory for women, for development, and for justice prevailing – after the women’s struggle from March to September to win approval of all Haku society.
​The Official Blessing at the opening was led by a Catholic Priest, a Methodist Minister, a United Church Minister, a Christian Revival Crusade Pastor, a Christian Revival Church Pastor, an ABG Independent Church Pastor.
 

June 2016 - opening of the Resource Centre

Resource centre

Take a virtual tour of HWC Resource Centre with Anna Sapur