In the heart of the Ambum Valley, where the mist clings to the mountains and tradition runs deep, the remarkable story of Ms Anna Etapae stands as a testament to courage, faith, and the transformative power of education.
A pioneering Catholic teacher and one of the first educated women from the Malipin Angalean tribe in Yarra Mander, Wabag, Ms. Etapae has dedicated over four decades of teaching, mentoring, and empowering generations of youth across Enga Province.
Born in the early 1970s in Kamas, Wakenanda village, Anna defied traditional expectations for women by pursuing education when few girls were sent to school.
Encouraged by her visionary father, Arnold Etapae Yangana Lomeyari, and inspired by Catholic missionaries, she enrolled in a mission school at St. Martin de Porres Parish. Her academic excellence and spiritual devotion soon set her apart.
After earning a scholarship to a Catholic Teacher Training College in Mt. Hagen, Anna returned to her province as a fully trained teacher in the 1990s.
From the mission school in Mariant to assignments across Pogera, Laiagm, Kompiam Ambum, and Wapenamada, her classroom became a haven of discipline, faith, and hope. She taught boys and girls alike, championed girls' education, and became a trusted spiritual guide in school and parish settings.
Ms Etapae’s leadership extended far beyond academics. She actively participated in diocesan and provincial Catholic women’s gatherings, trained other women as catechists and health workers, and played a vital role in launching the Agalean One Komyunit and Leadership Camp in 2008 — a program that continues to inspire young women to become professionals and community leaders.
Her deep faith and life of celibate service earned her the title of “spiritual mother” across parishes. In 1995, she received the Diocesan Medal of Honour from Fr. Lawrence Kambao for her extraordinary contributions to education and Church life.
Despite facing cultural resistance, infrastructure challenges, and personal sacrifices, Anna remained steadfast.
Her advocacy for girl-child education and efforts in tribal conflict resolution have left an indelible mark on Enga society.
In 2020, the Catholic Diocese of Wabag honored her legacy with a special Mass and community celebration. Plans are underway to publish her biography and launch a scholarship fund in her name to support young girls from her tribe.
Her motto remains simple but powerful: “If God gives you knowledge, use it to build bridges, not walls.”
Today, Ms Anna Etapae’s legacy lives on — in classrooms, communities, and the lives of the many she has touched with her quiet strength and unwavering commitment to faith and education.
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God bless her ministry and perseverance in faith and dedication in personal ministry. God bless her and her family 🙌
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