A total of 147 community members attended an evening screening of the domestic violence awareness documentary Senisim Pasin at June Valley in Port Moresby on Monday night.
Hosted by the PNG Tribal Foundation in partnership with AFL PNG through the Pilai Lon Senis (PLS) Program, the full-day initiative combined daytime youth sports and training with the evening film screening to spark community-led social change.
The 45-minute documentary focuses on shifting cultural mindsets and transforming how men value and treat women and girls within their communities.
Senisim Pasin National Coordinator Marjorie Finkeo noted that June Valley faces significant law and order challenges—including petty crime, rising unemployment, school dropouts, limited access to basic services for women, and the normalization of violence.
“We brought the film into the community to educate people that the social issues they see around them are not something they should accept or ignore, but rather help change their communities themselves,” Ms. Finkeo said.
“A lot of women were afraid to speak out. However, their reactions after watching the film showed that they understood the issues of domestic violence, drug abuse, and accusations of sorcery, but they did not know how to get help,” she added.
Following the screening, 37 participants stepped forward to sign personal pledges and collected free communication tools designed to guide them as agents of change within their own households and the wider community.
Earlier in the day, the Pilai Lon Senis team engaged 178 children and youths in Australian Rules football activities, delivering hands-on coaching and umpiring clinics. Lead Program Officer Jill Ravusiro said the sports component served as a positive platform to bring young people together ahead of the evening awareness session.
For 17-year-old participant Rosemary Raka from Central Province, the documentary underscored the urgent need to empower young women. She shared that the film highlighted how women are often undervalued in society and emphasized that education remains a vital pathway to escaping abuse at home.
The screening also prompted candid dialogue among attendees regarding gender dynamics and legal protections, reflecting the complex perspectives surrounding domestic disputes in the community.
While some male participants voiced concerns about how existing laws are applied during household conflicts, the session provided an open forum to discuss accountability, mutual respect, and peaceful conflict resolution.
June Valley community leader Degi Benny thanked the PNG Tribal Foundation and the Pilai Lon Senis team for bringing the initiative to their neighbourhood, noting it was the first program of its kind hosted in the area.
He confirmed that community leaders have formally requested a follow-up screening to reach even more residents.