By MALUM NALU
A five-year-old Papua New Guinea girl in Australia is raising funds for Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae through collection and sale of empty cans and bottles.
Kiana Ainie Arang, daughter of former PNG champion kick-boxer and professional boxer Kartu ‘Wantok Warrior’ Arang, felt compelled to do so after seeing a heart-breaking Facebook picture of an old man lying on the floor of Angau.
Arang, from Kabwum in Morobe, is now married to Australian woman, Lisa, and they have four children: two girls and two boys.
Kartu and Lisa Arang run a growing property management services and cleaning business in Wollongong and Newcastle in New South Wales
Kiana, according to her dad, has raised $1000 (K2692) so far and is still going strong.
“Around April of last year,” Arang recalls, “I was reading a post on Facebook with a photo of a sick, old man from a remote area of Morobe in pain lying on an outpatient hard floor of Angau Memorial Hospital.
“He was without any pillow, blanket or a single mattress.
“The poster was saying that there were ‘not enough beds’.
“My four, now five-year-old daughter, Kiana, looked over my shoulder and saw this old man in the photo.
“She asked me why this bubuman (grandfather) was sleeping like that in pain ‘because it’s not right’.
“I told her the truth about her daddy’s country PNG: ‘We are rich in resources but still can’t help our people with some basic services and needs’.
“She was so sad and from her little heart told me ‘ Dad, how can I help that bubuman with medicine, pillow, blanket and a fold-up bed?”
Arang said in Australia, big supermarkets like Woolworths had ‘Click & Collect’, for empty cans and bottles.
“A machine next to their supermarket, where you put in empty cans and bottles, will print you receipts of 10 cents per bottle or can.
“I told Kiana to start collecting empty bottles and cans to raise money to help her aunties and uncles in PNG.
“She agreed and started straight away.
“She has raised around $1000 so far and is still working hard.
“Her aunty opened a GoFundMe page for her, her school heard, and has been helping her collecting bottles and cans.
“Our family and friends have been very supportive of her.
“She’s been so happy doing this.
“We will open a bank account for her project.”
Arang is also planning charitable fights to raise funds for Angau to complement his daughter’s fundraising drive.
He was raised in Busu Compound, Lae, along the notorious Malahang Back Road, and wants to give something back to his beloved home town and Morobe.
Arang recalls growing up in poverty in the settlement.
“I grew up in Busu Compound, along the Malahang Back Road, and fought for food scraps at the Second-Seven (Malahang) dump,” he remembers.
Kartu ‘Wantok Warrior’ Arang, a product of the Stanley Nandex stable, was PNGs first professional kickboxing world champion in 2004.
Elouera Tony Mundine’s Gym in Redfern, Sydney, signed him up as a professional boxer in 2006 – PNG’s first professional kick boxer to turn professional boxer.
Arang had Australasian bantamweight rankings in 2006, 2007 and 2008
He hung up his gloves in 2010 after an outstanding career spanning 12 years.
What an inspiring story from such a young lass. Her family must be doing the right stuff in bringing her up in Australia while retaining the love for Papua New Guinea.
Indeed Mr Pascoe.
Such a beautiful young soul at that size, age and has a wonderful heart for his Dad’s country. ❤️🇵🇬
This is a demonstration of parents good influence to their children. Lovely story, keep the good work, the child has a good heart. Go for it the Arangs!
Thank you Kamong.
Tender loving and caring heart
Such a heartfelt story.She’s an angel no kid her age would have that kind of thought.It will go along way.God bless your heart Princess
She has a good heart and love for people. Keep her on track and let her grow with her passion. She has a bright future ahead.
Thank you little angel. God Bless You.
I search Gofundme to send my donation. Unfortunately, I cannot find it. She has a good heart and i believe any donation big or small will go a long way.
Hi here is a link:
https://gofund.me/f120b054
Kind regards,
Angela
Amazing work! So proud of my little niece Kinaa and the family!
For anyone wanting to donate, here is the link:
https://gofund.me/c9584f23
My princess and a heaven sent angel my heart wrench for your charitable little heart. My tears of joy for you and family down in Aussie. We are all behind you in prayer for God guidance and directions to reach another level in your fund raising my sweet golden heart.
God bless that little Morobean Heart 💙
A little angel with such a huge heart. God bless you child.
Great stuff straight out of the very young but huge heart.
Such a sweet angel having thoughts for others. God bless your beautiful heart.
Tenkyu liklik wantok for your kind heart. Morobe em ples blo yu, tenkyu tumas
Certainly, our proud little Kumul princess… Way ahead of her years!!! God bless your tiny loving heart.
A Beautiful Kumul who has a big heart, for her Father’s people in Lae. God Bless you Kiana in your desire to help the needy. May your actions inspire many other children in your area to help you or donate to the worthy cause..
Thank you little angel.
Also, thank you Mr & Mrs .Arang for a perfect upbringing.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
how i love her heart
Thank God for your great heart.Lots love from biggie long Busu Dusty river.God bless your kind heart.🇵🇬
God Bless Her Soul
A Raising Star
County and World needs Her.