One woman's fight against sorcery violence.

It’s estimated as many as 200 people die each year and dozens more are left badly injured.

Source: RNZ

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Contribute here to saving the lives of sorcery accusation survivors. One of our key impact aims is to support Evelyn to continue her work. She needs her own land and a permanent place of residence where she will be able to continue to help rehabilitate, and counsel the victims of violence

You can help by donating to Evelyn Kunda’s Safehouse here.

All donations go directly to supporting Evelyn Kunda’s Safehouse.

Thank you for your support.

Evelyn Kunda

Evelyn Kunda became a human rights defender when she saw what was happening around her in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. People are being forced to leave their villages accused of ‘sanguma’ - witchcraft and sorcery. Many are tortured and even killed in their villages, but those that do escape, find themselves alone and desperate. Evelyn is determined to do all she can to help these survivors.

Evelyn gives everything she can to support, house, and rehabilitate the often traumatised survivors that she takes under her wing. Her work is dangerous, unfunded, and desperately needed.

MARIMARI Film

MARIMARI is an intimate and moving documentary of anguish and hope in equal measure. Step into the heart of Papua New Guinea, enter a cinematic journey with courageous indigenous human rights defender, Evelyn Kunda.

An unfiltered view into Evelyn's world as she rescues and rehabilitates survivors of sorcery accusation related violence (SARV). A verité style film that provides access to a world in which this new practice of sorcery violence wreaks havoc on the lives of many innocent people in the Pacific.

MARIMARI captures Evelyn’s tireless efforts, revealing a story that's compelling, richly nuanced, and leaves the viewer with a blend of fear, admiration, and a deep understanding of a woman who risks it all for her people.

MARIMARI is a call to action, as the communities of the largest Pacific island deal with rapid social change - brought about through globalization, mining, and economic pressures - the most vulnerable are being tortured and burned alive.

Impact Project

We set out to make a film that informs the world about what is occurring in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. MARIMARI does this through a captivating personal narrative. The documentary seeks to contribute to improving the lives of survivors, and the indigenous female human rights defenders who risk their lives to rescue and rehabilitate those survivors. We have the long term goal of raising $80,000 (NZD) by the end of 2026 to help secure land for Evelyn and a Safehouse.

We are also producing a series of short social media videos aimed at communicating an anti-violence message in the local language for audiences in Papua New Guinea. Find out more about these videos below.

Viewers moved by MARIMARI are invited to contribute to helping Evelyn to buy land on which to establish a safe house. All proceeds gathered here go directly to supporting Evelyn Kunda’s Safehouse and bringing an end to sorcery accusation related violence .

If you are interested in running a private fundraising screening, proceeds can be split for charity, please get in touch.

Here on the website you are able to donate directly to an OpenCollective for Evelyn’s Safehouse.

Our Impact Goals

Raise awareness about sorcery accusation related violence in the Pacific through the feature documentary MARIMARI.
Develop a series of in-country resources designed to combat sorcery accusation related violence.
Connect our audience with our partners who are carrying out humanitarian work in PNG.
Connect our audience with further information and resources about stopping sorcery violence.
Support Evelyn Kunda to build a permanent Safehouse on secure land.
In alignment with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal, to empower the women whose lives are affected by sorcery violence in the Pacific

Resources

Stop Sorcery Violence

PNG Tribal Foundation

Oxfam

Human Rights Watch

Save the children

Social Media Videos

The MARIMARI team are developing a series of public services, and social media videos that aim to reduce sorcery accusation related violence in Papua New Guinea.

It can be very difficult to change people’s belief systems and the belief in what is widely known in PNG as ‘sanguma’ (sorcery) is difficult to shift. Research shows that it is better to ‘crowd out’ the sanguma explanations of death or misfortune with alternative narratives. In instances where sanguma is being used as a causal explanation following a death, it is much more effective to raise doubt by offering alternative explanations rather than opposing the sorcery explanation directly.

We also know that direct empathetic appeals can also be effective. Asking people to think about how they would react if their sister, mother, or aunty was accused can also help people to reconsider violent action.

We know that most of the perpetrators of sorcery violence are young men. The actions of these young men are often implicitly or even explicitly endorsed by senior member of the community.

Young people in PNG are accessing the internet and social media via their phones. We are in the process of creating a series of short social media and public service videos that address this audience directly. Using a combination of direct appeals, short entertaining videos, and alternative explanations, we aim to contribute to the reduction of violence in communities.

News

Celebrating Paul and Adam's return

Our crew recently got together to celebrate Paul Wolffram and Adam Browne's return from Papua New Guinea.

Paul and Adam depart for PNG

After nearly two years of pre-production delays due to Covid-19 and border restrictions, our mighty film crew of two are finally headed for Papua New Guinea to be reunited with Evelyn for the first time in years.

PledgeMe Success

We recently put together a PledgeMe Campaign to concentrate fundraising efforts for Evelyn and her Safehouse, and have raised a total of $6,280 for Evelyn.

Urgent Action Grant

Everlyn Kunda receives an Urgent Action Grant to support her work in Goroka. The Asia Pacific Urgent Action Grant has awarded Everlyn a grant to help her find a secure location to run her Safehouse on the outskirts of Goroka.

Sanguma: COVID-19

When a woman was accused of using witchcraft to kill a young boy, his father and the village tribesmen gathered to torture her. By the end of the day, she was dead. Experts warns more such killings are likely as the COVID death toll grows.

Everlyn Kunda: Goroka

Despite the tough conditions and restrictions on movement caused by COVID 19, Everlyn Kunda continues her efforts to feed the children who live in the streets of Goroka. Everyday Everlyn and her team of volunteers distribute food and drink to those living on Goroka’s streets.