Back	Inside the Kikori Training Centre
Isikeli Taureka officially opened the new CDI Foundation Training Centre in Kikori on Monday 29 July 2002. The Centre’s training building was named Isikeli Taureka Haus in recognition of his service to CDI as its inaugural Chairman. Isikeli, a Papua New Guinean who is now Managing Director of ChevronTexaco’s Thailand Business Unit, initiated the development of the CDI Foundation while he was ChevronTexaco’s Country Manager in PNG.

The Kikori Training Center under construction

In the construction of the huge building, CDI ensured that in every way it followed its own philosophy of local partnership and cooperation. The 62 metre by 12 metre traditional style longhouse is built substantially of locally sourced materials – 100 timber poles, 250 cubic metres of timber, 6000 metres of palm leaf roofing battens, cane bindings, 600 square metres of woven sero wall linings and another 600 square metres of woven grass mats. Construction over 16 months involved over a hundred local tradesmen, carvers and labourers who moved all the timber poles and beams by hand, without the use of a crane.

Isikeli Taureka opened the centre in Kikori with the words “Ita ibonai ita gaukara hebou” which in Motu – the lingua franca of the area – means “we must work together”. He was not making a request, rather a statement of the reality of rural development in Papua New Guinea and his vision for the future. It also summed up the feelings of most of those present at the opening ceremony – that they were witnessing the start of something that should have far reaching benefits for everyone, and especially those in this sometimes forgotten part of Gulf Province. And under the hot sun it must have seemed to some of the invited guests that indeed everyone was there that day – a crowd of hundreds of people from the Kikori area in addition to the five sing-sing groups and one theatre group who provided entertainment.

Isikeli Taureka speaks at the launching ceremony

The same day also saw the official launch of the CDI Foundation radio station – CDI FM – live on air, also by Isikeli Taureka. CDI FM is possibly the only radio station owned and operated by an NGO in Papua New Guinea. It is a high-tech operation using the latest in computer-based programming so that it really only needs one full time person to manage it – CDI’s active and effervescent radio coordinator, Jobby Paiva.

The CDI longhouse will also be shared with WWF staff based in Gulf Province…..the local craftsmen even carved a panda onto one of the housed poles to make them feel more at home. The actions of the local dancing groups, the friendly crowd and the words of the various guest speakers confirmed support for CDI and its activities from the community, local, provincial and national government as well as the oil industry participants.

Local dancers at the launching ceremony

Now, with the excitement of the launching over with, the staff and associates of CDI take the vision of community development to a new level, making the most of this unique new facility to expand their development programs. As they work with their government counterparts at Kikori, Isikeli’s advice reminds them all of what it takes to promote development in Papua New Guinea . . . . . working together.