The European Union-funded United Nations Joint Programme for Support to Rural Entrepreneurship, Investment and Trade and in Papua New Guinea (EU-STREIT PNG) continues to expand its support to rural areas of the Greater Sepik Region, specifically targeting women and youth in capacity building of agri-food value chain. Here, the programme extended technical assistance to a cooperative society in Turubu LLG of Wewak, East Sepik Province, with the help of a strong young woman.

24-year-old Hallilah Nakumai from Dandan Village in Turubu LLG, Wewak District in East Sepik Province is one of the vibrant women the EU-STREIT PNG Programme has come across in supporting build capacity and providing technical assistance to their established rural business activities.

Graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor in Sustainable Tropical Agriculture at Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources (UNRE), Hallilah found herself back in the village in Dandan with a very slim chance of securing a formal job in urban cities.