On August 17, 2019, the peaceful village of Bagl in Papua New Guinea was tragically destroyed in an act of violence. Armed vigilantes burned the entire village to the ground, leaving families homeless and destitute. For nine months, the villagers received no assistance from authorities. This website is a plea for help to rebuild Bagl Village and restore hope to its resilient community. With your support, we can provide essential aid, rebuild homes, and empower the villagers to create a brighter future. Together, we can help Bagl Village rise from the ashes.
Bagl Village, a once vibrant community nestled in the heart of the countryside, now lies in ruins, its homes reduced to ashes and its people left homeless. A devastating fire swept through the village, consuming everything in its path.
Families have lost their homes, their belongings, and their livelihoods. Many are now living in temporary shelters, struggling to cope with the trauma of losing everything they hold dear. The fire has destroyed not only physical structures but also the fabric of the community. Bagl Village was a close-knit community where neighbors relied on each other for support and friendship. Now, they are scattered and displaced, feeling isolated and alone.
The urgent need for assistance is evident. The community needs immediate support to restore their homes and rebuild their lives. This includes providing temporary shelter, food, and clothing, as well as medical care for those who have been injured. Long-term support is also crucial to help the community recover from the trauma and rebuild their livelihoods. This includes providing access to education and job training, as well as psychological support to help them cope with the emotional impact of the fire.
Restoring Bagl Village is not just about rebuilding physical structures, but about restoring a community. It is about bringing people together, providing them with hope, and empowering them to rebuild their lives. By supporting Bagl Village, we can help create a brighter future for the community and ensure that they can thrive once again.
Hello, my name is Anita Thomas. I hail from this village in Papua New Guinea and currently reside in the UK with my three children. On August 4th, 2019, we returned from a month-long visit to our village. Tragically, just two weeks after our return, on August 17th, 2019, gunmen set fire to the village.
The purpose of our visit was to see family, including my 86-year-old father, whom my grandchildren had not seen in 11 years. It was intended to be our final visit before anything happened to my father. Unfortunately, my family and I were directly affected by the attack, losing four homes, two of which were severely vandalized and partially burnt. Other families in the village suffered similar losses.
In response to this devastating crisis, I have taken on the role of Village Restoration Coordinator. Since 2011, I have been working on the Bagl Village - Model Village (BVMV) concept, which aims to engage people in self-help initiatives to address issues such as drug use, health, poverty, and tribal fighting, thereby indirectly bringing development to the community.
Unfortunately, I could not foresee that four years later, a crisis of this magnitude would occur, demanding even more urgent funding needs.
To initiate the rebuilding process, we reached out to a company that initially expressed willingness to assist. However, due to funding constraints, they have regrettably withdrawn their support. Consequently, we are now seeking to raise funds to support the community's self-help efforts. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to raise the targeted amount through our initial fundraising drive. Our immediate focus is on providing temporary accommodation, clothing, blankets, mattresses, gardening tools, cooking utensils, and basic necessities. Long-term plans include restoration, self-help schemes, conflict resolution, and strategies to mitigate its impact.
Your generous donations will be gratefully received and utilised for the rebuilding of Bagl Village.
If you wish to contribute, kindly click on the 'DONATE' button.
For those interested in actively participating in the rebuilding of this community, please contact us through this page or email us at info@baglvillage.org.