Voice for Change’s We Rise Mapowa LLG Project Office continues to play a vital role in improving safety, leadership, and livelihoods for women, young women, and communities in Baiyer River, Western Highlands Province. Established in November 2021 and fully operational from February 2022, the project was created in response to the urgent need for GBV prevention and response services for women and girls. 

Since its establishment, the Mapowa Project Office has worked closely with key community groups, including churches, ward councillors, women’s groups, and young women. These partnerships have enabled ongoing consultations, trainings, and community meetings. 

These relationships form the backbone of the program’s efforts to strengthen communication pathways and community engagement.

Over nine months, the project delivered a series of capacity‑building trainings aimed at improving gender equality, peace, and economic resilience. These included:

• Three Gender Trainings

• Three Peace Building Trainings

• Three Livelihood Skills Trainings

• One Peace Mediation Session

The project also facilitated consultations under two major programs:

1. Young Women Leadership Empowerment Program

2. Women in Leadership Program

In total, the team conducted nine trainings and identified 168 Persons Living With Disability for a Social Inclusion Workshop. 

A key initiative under the project is the Soil Improvement Program, delivered in partnership with the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI). This program brought together participants from Jiwaka Province and Baiyer River District to explore improved agricultural practices and livelihood opportunities.