HANIWAI Leads the Charge: Indigenous Women Unite to Clean Up Ela Beach on World Environment Day
In the early hours of June 5, members of the Humanity and Nature Indigenous Women’s Association Inc. (HANIWAI) gathered at Ela Beach, Port Moresby, to commemorate World Environment Day with a hands-on initiative: a beach cleanup. Armed with gloves, trash bags, and an unwavering commitment to environmental justice, these Indigenous women took to the sand, removing plastic waste and debris to restore the beauty of one of Papua New Guinea’s most beloved coastal areas.
HANIWAI, an Indigenous women-led non-profit organization, has long been at the forefront of advocacy for marginalized communities and environmental protection. Their mission extends beyond cleanup efforts—through workshops, awareness campaigns, and cultural education, they work to break cycles of violence and discrimination while championing climate justice and sustainable resilience.
This year’s World Environment Day theme, “Together we can beat plastic pollution,” resonated deeply with HANIWAI’s members. Founder and Director Maryanne Rimbao emphasized the importance of self-discipline and responsibility in tackling environmental degradation. “Every one of us should be self-disciplining and educating ourselves to be responsible for our attitude and behavior. When we do that, the environment and community we live in will have healthy surroundings and a clean environment for us to sustain our livelihood,” she stated.
The cleanup was more than just an act of service—it was a statement. A statement that Indigenous women are leading the charge in protecting their land, their waters, and their communities. It was a reminder that grassroots movements, fueled by passion and solidarity, can drive meaningful change.
HANIWAI’s efforts did not go unnoticed. Their initiative was featured in Post Courier, highlighting their dedication to environmental stewardship and community empowerment.
(https://www.postcourier.com.pg/women-association-cleanup-ela-beach-to-commemorate-world-environment-day/)
As the sun rose over a cleaner Ela Beach, the message was clear: preserving, protecting, and transforming is not just a motto—it’s a movement. And HANIWAI is leading the way.