 |
| Figure 1: Kaviak CBO Chairman Micah Malol welcomes MAKATA to Kaviak village. |
By
GERALDINE BEPI, Project Officer
Community
Facilitators: Bonny Wadui, Adolf Lilai, Edith Bai, and
Micah Lawrence
Location
Kaviak Village, Ward Four (4) Karkar (North)
LLG, Karkar Island, Sumkar District, Madang Province.
Purpose
The purpose of this field trip is to
conduct a baseline survey to develop a comprehensive village profile for Kaviak
Village, encompassing demographic, socio-economic, and environmental and
infrastructure aspects.
Village
Overview
Kaviak village, is in Ward Four (4) of the Karkar (North)
LLG, Karkar Island, Sumkar District, Madang Province. It is located in the Waskia Zone of Karkar
Island and has a population of 1,108 people.
The village is divided into four
clans: Wolan (with Balang as its subclan), Kulkul, and Kaviak. Youths form the
largest population group, followed by children under 17, while adults aged 60
and above are the smallest group. The village also includes individuals with
disabilities.
Governance is managed under cultural
laws, with a village councilor and community and clan leaders overseeing the community
affairs.
Severe crime cases are referred to the
nearby Karkar Police Station which is about 5 to 10 minutes’ walk from Kaviak
village.
Most households are semi-permanent
(70%), with traditional bush-material (20%) and permanent (10%) houses.
Families live as units, speaking the
indigenous 'Waskia' language and widely using 'Tok Pisin'.
Villagers rely on gardening, fishing, and
store goods for food.
In addition, according to Ian Beb, the
Chief Executive Officer for Karkar Rural Local Level Government, the
neighboring villages within Ward 4 include: Dorokatam, Iror, and Keng 4. Kinim government station is also within Ward
4.
 |
| Bonny Wadui doing Kaviak Village Profile. |
 |
Figure 2: Members of the Kaviak clan participating in the baseline survey facilitated by Geraldine Bepi, Bonny Wadui, Edith Bai, Micah Lawrence, and Adolf Lilai. |
 |
| Adolf Lilai interviewing Ward 4 Councilor, Hon. Palol Yomar in Kaviak village. |
1. Introduction
This report presents the findings of a baseline survey conducted in Kaviak Village, Karkar Island, between the 23rd of February and 3rd of March 2025. The survey aimed to gather essential data to develop a detailed village profile, providing a foundation for future development initiatives and monitoring activities.
This profile will serve as a valuable resource for State intended users such as ward councilor, community leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and local government in understanding the current situation and planning interventions.
This report compliments an earlier report on Kaviak Village Profile compiled by Ms. Winnifred Duk, from Kaviak village. She is a PhD candidate studying at the New South Wales University in Australia (See report attached).
Structured questionnaires were administered to a representative sample of households within Kaviak Village. The sample size was 216 households, representing approximately 90% of the village population.
3. Results
3.1 Demographics:
·
Total estimated population: 1108;
·
Household size: Depends greatly on the number
of family members;
·
Average (number) persons per households:
ranges between 3 to 10 people occupying a house; and
· Age distribution: The majority of the age distribution groups comes from the youths between the age group of 18-30 years old. Following that age group is the age group of 17 years and below as the second largest. There are less number of adults and old people in the age group of 31 years and above.
Ethnic composition
·
Melanesian Population:
Like
the rest of the Papua New Guinea, the population of Kaviak Village is
Melanesian. This simply means that they also share ancestral ties and cultural
similarities like the rest of the Melanesian societies.
·
Linguistic Groups:
The
island of Karkar as a whole is known to have two linguistic groups. It is the
home of the speakers of Waskia and Takia languages respectively. In the small community of Kaviak Village it
comprises of majority Waskia and Tok Pidgin speakers. These languages played a
vital role in distinguishing the speakers of Waskia and Takia languages.
·
Cultural Practices:
The
people of Kaviak maintain their own unique cultural practices, which are
intertwined with their linguistic groups and their connection to their
surrounding environment. Some of these
practices would include traditional forms of social organization, arts and
crafts and oral traditions and storytelling that have been passed down from
generations to generations.
·
Influence of the Wider PNG Culture:
Kaviak
village is one of the many parts that made PNG as one big nation, therefore it
is evident in the cultural traits they share with the rest of the Papua New
Guineans.
·
Religious Influences:
It
is noted that the population is made up of members of the Lutheran, Catholic,
Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) and Four Square churches.
Figure 3: Kaviak CBO
chairman, Micah Malol, deputy chairman
Tobias Mosen, little Rebecca, her mom and others posing with ‘Why save leatherbacks' posters at Kaviak village, Karkar Island. Picture by Community Facilitator Adolf Lilai. |
Migration patterns: Factors Influencing Migration
Plantation Economy
Karkar
Island has a history of plantation agriculture, particularly coconut and cocoa.
This has led to migration for employment opportunities. People from other parts of PNG, especially the
highlands, have migrated to Karkar Island to work on these plantations. This is
shown in the information from the Mark O'Shea website, where it states that
"the industry supports a large population (50,000) of islanders and
migrants from other parts of PNG, especially highlanders." 1.
www.markoshea.info
Therefore,
the plantation economy has been a large pull factor for migration to the
island.
Volcanic Activity
Karkar Island is a volcanic island, and volcanic activity has historically caused displacement and migration. Eruptions can force residents to temporarily or permanently relocate.
Economic
Opportunities
Like
many rural areas in Papua New Guinea, people from Kaviak may migrate to larger
towns or cities in search of better economic opportunities, education, and
healthcare.
Social
and Family Ties
Migration
can also be driven by social and family ties. People may move to join relatives
or to marry into other communities.
The plantation economy has historically driven inward migration to Karkar Island, with people seeking employment opportunities.
Outward Migration
·
Younger generations may migrate to urban
centers like Madang or Port Moresby in search of education and employment.
·
Temporary migration may occur due to volcanic
activity.
Internal
Island Migration
·
Movement between villages on the island for
marriage and trade.
It's important to note that detailed, village-specific migration data can be challenging to obtain. However, these general patterns provide a helpful overview.
Sources
·
Mark O’Shea: Karkar Island – Mark O’shea;
·
Global Volcanism Program: Karkar – Global Volcanism Program; and
·
Members from the local community.
 |
| Figure 4: MAKATA team in Kaviak village |
3.2 Socio – Economic Conditions
Kaviak Elementary School Board Chairman and Sumkar MP’s Electoral Staff, Mr. Albert Karitamol, informed the team that the primary sources of income for the Kaviak community include copra, betel nut, mustard, cocoa, and fishing.
Specific figures he provided show that approximately 5% of the community's income comes from cocoa, with several active farmers in the village including David Magu, Levis Laph, and Micah Malol leading production.
He added that around 150 villagers have joined the World Bank PNG Agriculture Commercialization and Diversification Program (PACD), qualifying them to receive 200 cocoa seedlings each, by June or July this year.
He further stated that the World Bank has engaged Paul Goodyear through Biabi Enterprise to supply black pod-resistant cocoa clones to these registered farmers.
Mr. Karitamol pointed out that about 80-90% of villagers rely on copra, 40% on betel nut, 40% on mustard, and 5% on fishing, with the Fish Lama accounting for about 5%.
He said other income sources include poultry (1%) and informal sectors, commonly known as the Table Market (3%).
There are no commercial or village piggery operations in the community according to Mr. Karitamol.
These activities collectively generate the primary income for the Kaviak community.
Education
Mr. Karitamol, informed the Community Facilitators that Kaviak village has one primary school, namely Kidoka Primary School. This school has been unregistered since 2005.
Most children receive their primary education from this school, as well as from Kaviak Elementary School.
Students who excel are selected to continue their secondary education at Karkar Secondary School, the only secondary school on Karkar Island, formerly Karkar High School.
Additionally, the village has an Early Childhood Development (ECD) center run by the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church, called Sivono SDA Phonics School.
As of 2025, around 40-50 Kaviak children have attended the Karkar Secondary School.
Students who could not further their education in colleges and universities have secured education at the Yu Kinim Technical Vocation Education Training (TVET) center, located in Kinim.
According to Mr. Karitamol, yearly observations show that only 15% of children are selected for tertiary institutions, while 65% pursue technical education across the country.
About 25% often return to the village, he observed.
Mr. Karitamol has been securing places for these school leavers in Madang Technical College, Youth to Youth Development Center, and City Mission (TVET) in Ululan with the support of Sumkar District Development Authority (DDA) since 2023.
The program provides 50% financial support to students continuing to colleges and tertiary institutions and 50% support to school leavers back at home, he said.
 |
| Figure 5: Kidoka Primary School unregistered since 2005 |
Health
Mr. Karitamol said there is no healthcare facility in Kaviak village. For healthcare needs the villagers visit the nearest healthcare centre called Miak Health Centre, about four (4) kilometers, from the village.
Kaviak villagers walk for 30 minutes to Miak Health Centre for medical assistance. When Miak Health Centre runs out of medical supplies, villagers seek medical assistance in Yu (Het blong wara) Kinim Aid Post. It’s located within Ward 4.
Social Organization
The social structure in Kaviak village is patrilineal. Hence, men play a key role in land ownership, clan leadership, village politics, customary practices, rituals, songs and dances and related leadership roles and responsibilities in their respective families, and clans.
3.3 Environmental Conditions
Land Use
The patterns of their land use evolves in time, however currently their main use of land includes gardening, agricultural practices, and for accommodation.
Water Resources
Water is one of their biggest problem faced daily. Access to clean drinking water depends greatly on rain and the level of water in their well.
Forest Resources
Forest resources are scares and limited for the three of the four clans in Kaviak village living along the coast. However, the fourth clan located inland has access to many natural forest resources.
Waste Management
There is no waste management practices and thus waste is an issue that needs addressing.
Climate change
Climate change has been a major concern for the villagers.
Effects of climate change has caused major problems like soil erosion along the coastline. Rising sea level has washed away many coastline and damaged many properties.
Villagers living near the beach had to relocate inland due to the impacts of climate change.
Climate change effects may have also been a major cause for cocoa borers which had destroyed 80 to 90 percent of the cocoa plantations in the village.
According to some fishermen, some reefs have also been destroyed either through the use of poison ropes or from coral bleaching making it difficult for them to catch fish.
 |
| Figure 6: Physical evidence of the impact of climate change along the Kaviak coastline. |
3.4 Infrastructure
Housing
The
houses in Kaviak village are made of semi-permanent materials, bush materials,
and permanent materials.
Transportation
Their main modes of transportation are trucks, motor bikes, and boats.
Communication
Proper communication has been established with Digicel tower on the Island to ensure communication goes smoothly on the Island and other centers out of the Island.
Radio communication is effective but most times it depends on the strength of the frequencies and the weather.
Energy
There is no direct connection to electricity from any government source of power supply however, each household has purchased and used solar panels as an energy source to generate light and converted energy to charge other electronic devices.
 |
| Figure 7: Wenceslaus Magun standing in front of a bush material house in Kaviak village. |
The village of Kaviak on Karkar Island is one of the many communities composed of clans. Kaviak is home to four clans—Kaviak, Wolan, Balang, and Kulkul. Three of these, clans are located near the coastline, while the Balang clan resides in the hinterlands.
Despite its small size and a population of over 1,000, Kaviak has produced some of the best elites on the Island and in the country (See Winnifred Duk’s report attached).
The community faces significant challenges, including water scarcity, sea level rise, coastal erosion, and land shortages. These issues are largely attributed to climate change and a growing population.
The community's strength lies in the production and sale of cocoa beans, coconuts, mustards, and betelnuts, which are vital to their socio-economic development.
Environmental conditions pose a significant challenge. Harsh weather conditions, prolonged dry seasons, rising sea levels is causing coastal erosions. Heat-induced coral reef destruction or coral bleaching is also contributing to a decline in the local fish population, which impacts the community's protein sources.
In addition to environmental challenges, the village is grappling with substance abuse issues, particularly the consumption of homebrew and drugs among the youth, mainly the male population. This recreational activity has led to adverse effects, including fighting, swearing, and damaging properties, causing concern among community leaders and residents.
5. Recommendations
The challenges faced by Kaviak villagers on Karkar Island are indeed multifaceted and complex. Here are some recommendations that could help address these issues:
 |
| Ward 4 Councilor Hon. Palol Yomar, expressing concerns about some developmental issues in his Ward to MAKATA. |
Water Scarcity
Ø Sustainable Farming Practices: Promote sustainable agricultural methods that reduce soil degradation and increase crop yields.
Ø Reef Restoration Projects: Initiate a reef restoration project to restore damaged coral reefs to support fish populations, marine biodiversity and supplement protein.
Economic Development
Ø Diversification of Income Sources: Explore alternative income-generating activities such as eco-tourism or handicrafts, tree planting to support income generated from cocoa, coconut, mustard, and betelnut.
Ø Access to Markets: Improve access to markets for local products through better transportation and infrastructure.
Addressing Substance Abuse
Ø Community Programs: Develop programs aimed at providing recreational activities, education, and employment opportunities for the youth to reduce the consumption of homebrew and drugs.
Ø Counseling and Rehabilitation: Establish counseling and rehabilitation centers or Safe House to help individuals struggling with substance abuse, and family and sexual violence.
Ø Leadership Training: Train community leaders to effectively manage and address local issues.
Ø Public Awareness Campaigns: Conduct campaigns to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change and the importance of environmental conservation.
 |
| Figure 8: Albert Karitamol (center) provided some key information about Kaviak village. |
6.
Lessons Learned
There are a few Lessons Learned based
on the best practical approaches taken in Trance 1
highlighted and a few recommendations made
to adhere to:
· Two deaths occurred during the teams stay in Kaviak. One death occurred on Tuesday 25th
of February at night out of natural death.
This affected the team from doing their work on Wednesday 26th
of February.
· On Friday 28th of February another death occurred at
night from a crime related issue. This
disturbed the team hence they could not do their work on Saturday 29th
of February in Kaviak;
·
Heavy rain on Wednesday 26th, Thursday 27th,
and Friday 28th of February further hindered the teams work as
well. Not many villagers turned up for
the village profile survey activities;
·
In addition, from observation, the team noted that one big area of
concern is that Kaviak village is in dire need for good, clean, and healthy
water for drinking, washing, cooking, and sanitation.
· The team requested for the participation of the village recorder,
and the village court chairman.
Unfortunately, they did not participate.
· Meanwhile, on Sunday 02nd of March, the team visited
Mater village at the invitation of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Secretary,
Mr. Luak Magu. The team briefed the
teachers and the school board members for Marangis, Mater, and Bares Dabai ECDs
about MAKATA, marine conservation, and civil society organizations.
· The team observed that some villagers had high expectations from
MAKATA to give them some economic and social benefits. In response, the team informed these
villagers that MAKATA is here to empower them to achieve their dreams through
the Reef Restoration Project.
·
The team recommended that more awareness on climate change, human
activities affecting the environment, and about the project needs to be
conducted prior to conducting a community village profile.
·
The team recommended that more time is needed to do a proper
village survey for village profiling.
·
The team also observed that it was the first time for Kaviak
villagers to work with an NGO and therefore recommended that MAKATA should
continue with more educational awareness, and share lessons learned.
·
The team recommended that they must not force the community to
meet MAKATA’s expected job outcomes within the given period of work out in the
field. Rather, to flow with the
situation in the village by respecting their traditional cultures, religious
practices, and community laws. By doing
that they will establish a good working relationship for MAKATA with the
community and will earn their respect.
 |
| Gildipasi CSO Chairman Micah Lawrence sharing Gildipasi's story with Kaviak villagers. |
7. Way Forward
7.1.
Kaviak villagers requested for training in: Sewing, baking, poultry,
and other
related capacity building
trainings.
7.2.
While replanting reef, MAKATA should involve the community in
other
livelihood activities to give the reef two or three years to
grow. By that time the reefs will have
been restored and fishermen and women can return to fishing.
7.3.
MAKATA should set up a committee to manage the reef.
Mater village like many other villages on Karkar Island is also on the verge of losing their marine life due to reef harvest for lime consumption and climate change. Thus, the secretary of the three Early Childhood Development (ECD) schools in Bares Dabai, Mater and Marangis respectively, Mr. Luak Magu came up with a strategy as a means of counter measure to educate children or toddlers attending these three ECD schools to know what it means to conserve their marine life for future generations to come.
MAKATA Community Facilitators were invited to attend an open discussion held on the 2nd of March 2025 at Mater village, and documented their views, expectations, and needs.
Mr. Luak went on to say that their main objectives for that open discussions were:
2.
To seek assistance from MAKATA to get funding
or supplies for school materials;
3.
To seek assistance from MAKATA to get building
materials for their classrooms;
4.
To seek assistance from MAKATA to get
conservation integrated school materials; and
5.
To continue on with the project called “Ocean
Watch” in which they have already started.
 |
| Figure 9: ECD board members posing for a group photo with MAKATA'S Community Facilitators after a meeting in Mater village. Picture by Geraldine Bepi. |
9.1. Questionnaires
Kaviak Village Baseline Profile
Date: 23rd February to 3rd
March 2024
Officers in Charge of this Research
1. Name:___________________________Signature:__________________
2. Name:___________________________Signature:__________________
3. Name:___________________________Signature:__________________
4. Name:___________________________Signature:__________________
Name of the Village: Kaviak
Ward: Four
LLG: Karkar
North LLG
District: Sumkar
Province: Madang Province
Consent Letter
1. Are you happy to partner with MAKATA
in this community based Reef Restoration Project?
Why?
Provide your Consent Letter, dated, and signed off.
Community Vision
2. What's your community's vision?
3. What’s your community’s mission?
4. What’s your community’s goals, and
objectives?
5. Do you have a Ward Development Plan?
6. How do you plan to address these
issues? When? How?
Faith and Denomination
7. How many church
denominations you have? There are four churches active in Kaviak Village and
they are SDA, Lutheran, Four Square and Catholic
8. Are the church
denominations working in harmony with each other? If not, why not? How can you
address this issue?
Climate Change
9. Have you faced any climate change? If
so what are their impacts on the community as a whole?
10. What steps has the community taken to
address it or them?
Folklores and Sacred Sites
11. Document any
folklore, songs, dances, rituals, or customary norms relating to biodiversity
and natural resources management or traditional Tambu systems.
12. Do you have any sacred sites? Yes
13. Have you GPS these sites? Will you GPS
these sites? When? How?
14. Are the villagers
respecting these sites? If not, why not? How can you deal with law breakers of
these sites?
15. Do you have a land use plan?
16. If not, do you plan to establish one?
When? How?
Natural Resources Management Area
17. Do you have any
existing Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Conservation Area (CA), Protected Area
(PA), or a Community Based Natural Resource Management Area using a
Conservation Deed? (CBNrMMA_CD). If not,
do you plan to establish one? When? How?
Population
18. What's the
population of males, females? You could even break it down to teenage groups,
and adults (classify the age groups into age ranges like 0-10 etc)
19. How many people living with
disabilities? Males? Females?
Households
20. How many households?
21. How many people living in one
household?
22. How many semi-permanent houses?
23. How many permanent houses?
24. How many bush materials houses?
Economy
25. What are the main sources of
income? Break it down to:
26. How many productive cocoa trees?
27. How many productive betelnut trees?
28. How many productive mustards?
29. How many productive coconut trees?
30. How many productive vanilla?
31. How many productive honey bee?
32. How many productive fishing fishermen
or women, cooperative and etc?
33. How many trade stores?
34. How many PMVs?
35. How many dinghies, and etc?
36. Who owns them?
37. How much money do they make per month
or annually?
38. How many guest houses, and resource
canters do you have?
39. Do you have any fishing or corporation
groups?
40. What kind of economic services do they
provide?
41. How have these services supported
individual families and the community at large?
Education
42. How many schools? Break them up by
43. How many early childhood learning?
44. How many elementary school/s?
45. How many primary school/s?
46. How many high school/s? And
47. How many secondary school/s?
48. How many educated people in Kaviak?
49. What are their professions?
50. How many of these professionals are at
home?
51. How many are still working?
Social Issues
52. What are some common social problems?
53. How do you solve these problems?
54. Are you facing any water problems?
55. Are you facing land shortage problems?
56. Are you facing marine depletion
problems?
57. What steps if any have you taken to
address all your challenges and issues of concerns?
Training needs
58. Identify your training needs?
Health,
Water, and Hygiene Services
59. How many health services do you have?
60. How many water supplies?
Food
61. What are the food and protein sources?
62. Do you have balance meals?
63. What financial or
other form of assistance do you get from your Ward Member, LLG, DDA, MP, government,
private sectors, churches, CSOs, CBOs, or NGOs? How has these support benefited
the community?
Transportation to town, district head quarters
64. How far is Kaviak from Kinim and Madang
town?
65. What mode of transport do you have?
Comments
66. Have you got any further comments to
make?
Figure 10: Official signing of the Consent
Letter by Kaviak CBO Chairman Mr. Micah Malol and his deputy, Tobias Mosen.
9.2. Kaviak Consent Letter
(Attached)
 |
Figure 11: Kaviak Consent Letter |
