Julianne's Adventures Papua New Guinea

Global Friends Network - an educational endeavor

In 1992 after a visit to Walindi Plantation in West New Britian, Papua New Guinea, we arranged for a shipment of educational materials to be sent to the Patanga Community School. With the help of Continental Airlines and the Conroe Independent School District we were able to elevate the status of the local community school to a primary school by providing teaching materials and reference books. The Woodlands Dental Group donated toothbrushes and toothpastes and the shipment was very well received by the village. Max Benjamin of Walindi Plantation was extremely helpful. We also created a pen pal program where children at the Patanga School would write and communicate with children at a local school in Texas. Several years later hands go up when Julianne asks kids if they have a penpal in Papua New Guinea.

In 1994 when Julianne was participating in Jean-Michel Cousteau's Project Ocean Search she was again honored to visit another community school. This time it was the Savusavu Government School. While we did not send quite the shipment we had to PNG, we were able to deliver crayons and coloring books, toothbrushes and toothpastes to the village children. Again, we created pen pal relationships between students in Fiji and students in the Conroe Independent School District.

In 1996 while cruising on MV Golden Dawn we had an opportunity to visit a beautiful village and some classrooms at the Sawasawaga Community School.

On July 2nd 1997, we completed a shipment to Sawasawaga Community School. With help from Continental Air Cargo, Air New Zealand, and M/V Golden Dawn, we were able to ship 250 lbs. of books. We selected textbooks along with teaching manuals, Workman Publishing Products, and other children's books to round out a wonderful teaching gift. Friends and crewmembers of the MV Golden Dawn delivered the books and made a video tape of the event. The village threw a wonderful celebration and a good time was had by all.

Mission accomplished!

Skilled Photographer

As a professional photographer, Julianne's photographs have appeared in numerous diving publications and corporate annual reports. Her corporate clients include Hitachi, LifeCell, Houston Chronicle, Russian Diving Federation and The Woodlands Athletic Center.

Walindi Plantation

http://www.walindi.com/