The Abau Project & Training Centre is involved in translation, literacy and linguistic research. It has his own mission statement, goals and guiding principles
Mission Statement:
The Abau Project & Training Centre exists to further the educational and spiritual development of the Abau people and other bordering people groups. The Abau Project & Training Centre wants to promote the translation, distribution of the Word of God in the vernacular in written and audio format.
It also exists to raise the literacy and education level of all people but especially the young generation by active involvement in the training of local teachers, curriculum development and the production of teaching tools.
Goals of the Abau Project & Training Centre:
1. Support the work of Bible Translation of both the Old and New Testament
2. Support Literacy Work and Personal Development in the vernacular by running local Abau schools for children and by facilitating Training Centre Courses and Workshop for adults, with a special focus on women.
3. Train and encourage local pastors, youth workers and Sunday School Teachers to use God’s Word in their own language.
4. Produce and disseminate vernacular materials an Abau including dictionary, along with other school necessities to be used privately or in a course context.
5. Manage the Training Centre at Yabru-village so that this centre can be used for conferences, courses and retreats in the area of education and spiritual renewal.
Guiding principles of the Abau Project & Training Centre:
1. The Abau Project & Training Centre believes in the right for each language group to have at least part of the Bible in their own language.
2. The Abau Project & Training Centre is interdenominational and works together with churches, institutions and individuals who want to work in harmony for the well-being of the village communities in the Green River Area.
3. The Abau Project & Training Centre is a non-profit organisation. It depends on gifts, contributions and course fees to keep its operations going. The Abau Project has its own treasurer who sends monthly reports to project pioneer Arjen Lock for the benefit of donors who support the Abau Project out of the Netherlands and also Finland.
4. The Abau Project & Training Centre welcomes the opportunity to rent out its facilities for non-political gatherings and courses that have as goals to improve the spiritual or educational aspects of the people in the Green River Area. (Email: hf-abau_png@sil.org or Abauproject@gmail.com)
5. The Abau Project & Training Centre works with volunteers only. No one receives wages or a salary. There is no system of ‘pinis pe’ or other social security benefits. The project may grant allowances to some types of volunteer labour as directed by the board. These payments are not salaries but more a sign of appreciation and recognition of the work done.
