Turning negatives into positives: the life and work of Naomi Yupae.

Abstract

This article explores the life story of Naomi Yupae, one of the founders and the first executive director of Eastern Highlands Family Voice (EHFV), an organization based in Goroka, Papua New Guinea (PNG). A proud Bena Bena woman, Naomi was one of only a handful of women in the pre-Independence era to gain a scholarship to pursue secondary schooling in Australia. The article discusses Naomi's experiences as a student and her determination to come back to PNG to maintain her cultural connections with her people and contribute to development in PNG. Naomi's professional contributions as a researcher and social worker are discussed and evaluated.