PNGTPA BOOSTS PINK NOSE REVOLUTION CAMPAIGN

By Elizabeth Makis

Tourism Promotion Authority has boosted Surfing Associ ation PNG (SAPNG) with an amount of 115,000 PNG Kina towards the ‘Pink Nose Revolution Campaign’ in Sandaun, West Sepik Province as part of TPA’s mission to promote PNG to the world.

Surfers from the United States of America traveled, with Surf Association of Papua New Guinea President Andrew Abel, as part of a US Embassy Sports Envoy Program.

Surfing Association PNG Inc. is an advocate for Gender Based Violence in PNG. One of their programs is known as the “Pink Nose Revolution Campaign” which was the main focus of the visiting surfers.

The surfers Kellen Lovell, Maluhia Kinimaka, led by famous surfer, travel writer, film-maker, Alison Teal, arrived in the country on the 22nd February, 2023 at Lido village, Vanimo, Sandaun Province.

They participated in the ‘Pink Nose Revolution’ involving anti-GBV awareness with school students and locals undergoing surfing drills and clinics.

Apart from running awareness, the surfing team brought along a camera crew to film their community work and will assist in putting together a documentary film to showcase what the “Pink-Nose Revolution Campaign” is doing in PNG.

The ‘Pink Nose Revolution Campaign’ is part of SAPNG’s journey in changing local’s mindset and addressing Gender Base-Violence (GBV) in PNG.

The "Pink Nose Revolution Campaign" was established following the launching of Surfing Association Papua New Guinea in 2017.

“It was during this historical event in Tupira, Madang Province in 2017, where we launched the SAPNG ‘Pink Nose Revolution” to the world as an outcome-based strategy, emanating from the Internationally acclaimed

PNG surfing Documentary “Splinters”, that world premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in NYC, USA in 2011” stated the President and Co-Founder of SAPNG Andrew C. Abel.

Papua New Guinea was able to be on the global spotlight for surfing when the inaugural 2017 PNG KUMUL World Longboard Champions event was staged at Tupira Surf Club and was also livestream to 120 million people around the world.

This in itself, has portrayed and pushed PNG in surfing as the host country of a world championship event showcased for the world to see, and now new opportunities are emerging because of the staged event.

'Pink Nose' simply refers to the Surf board's tip which was painted pink as a color to represent the female population giving a feminine touch as per the campaign's goal in educating women to be confident and willing to hold other roles in the likes of sports to bring positivity and change to their community.

The surfers arrived in PNG for a oneweek surfing camp and to teach clinics and workshops at Vanimo for four (4) days before departing PNG. Though, before they left, they had a summit with the media, PNG Government officials, like-minded diplomatic missions, civil society groups and private sector actors. The summit was held in Port Moresby on March 3rd. The purpose of the summit as explained by Public Diplomacy Officer in a letter to the TPA CEO stated that the meeting was to bring awareness about using sports as a tool to positively influencing people and to curb the rise of GBV.

“The women in Sports Summit will raise awareness of the need to bring gender policies to all 38 PNG sports federations. This program builds off the momentum of 2011 surfing documentary Splinters which was selected to participate in the Tribeca Film media, and government officials to be a catalyst for transformation in sports”, stated Damian Wampler.

The development of surfing for social good in Papua New Guinea is a powerful example of how constraints can inspire creativity and how a lack of resources can foster a breeding ground for innovation. Here, women making waves of change on the edge of surfing's known