Tessie Soi is known throughout

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

(PNG) as the founder of Friends Foundation. This organization supports people who have

HIV/AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual ...

. She later became involved in supporting victims of family and sexual violence.

Early life

Soi was born in Gaba Gaba village in PNG's Central Province, one of seven siblings. She travelled extensively around PNG in her childhood as her father was posted for work to

Wewak Wewak is the capital of the East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea. It is on the northern coast of the island of New Guinea. It is the largest town between Madang and Jayapura. It is the see city (seat) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak. Hi ...

Vanimo Vanimo is the capital of Sandaun Province (West Sepik) in north-westernmost Papua New Guinea and of Vanimo-Green River District. It is located on a peninsula close to the border with Indonesia. Religion Its Holy Cross Pro-Cathedral is the epis ...

Madang Madang (old German name: ''Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen'') is the capital of Madang Province and is a town with a population of 27,420 (in 2005) on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. It was first settled by the Germans in the 19th century. Histor ...

and

Lae Lae () is the capital of Morobe Province and is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is located near the delta of the Markham River and at the start of the Highlands Highway, which is the main land transport corridor between the Highl ...

. She graduated in social work from the

University of Papua New Guinea The University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) is a university located in Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea. It was established by ordinance of the Australian administration in 1965. This followed the Currie Commission which had enquired ...

in 1982 and began working at the

Port Moresby General Hospital Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) is the largest hospital in Papua New Guinea. It is located in Korobosea, a suburb of Port Moresby in the National Capital District. A major teaching hospital, it is adjacent to the University of Papua New Guine ...

in the nation's capital in 1984.

Work with HIV/AIDS

In 1989 Soi spent six months on attachment to

Townsville General Hospital Townsville University Hospital (TUH), formerly The Townsville Hospital (TTH), is a public tertiary care hospital on Angus Smirth Drive, Douglas, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It is the largest facility within the Townsville Hospital and He ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, where she became aware of the impact of HIV/AIDS. On return to PNG, she tasked herself with overcoming the ignorance about AIDS in her country and started to be involved with HIV/AIDS care. At the time, people suffering from the disease were more feared than supported. Together with her husband, who she had married in 1985, she established an

NGO A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...

, Friends Foundation, with twelve friends, to help people suffering from AIDS. After initially supporting it with their own resources, they found external sponsorship, including funding from the Australian Government. In 2002 and 2003 Soi earned a Master's degree under the AIDS program at

James Cook University James Cook University (JCU) is a public university in North Queensland, Australia. The second oldest university in Queensland, JCU is a teaching and research institution. The university's main campuses are located in the tropical cities of Cairn ...

in Townsville. Returning to Port Moresby, she decided to refocus the Friends Foundation on mothers and, increasingly, grandparents who cared for children when both parents had died from AIDS. She instituted the Orphan Buddy System, a programme to help the grandparents pay school fees. Soi later became the clinical manager of the Port Moresby Family Support Centre, addressing issues such as family and sexual violence, and family planning.

Awards and honours

*Soi received a City Pharmacy Limited's "Pride of PNG Award" in 2012 and was invited to be a judge for the 2013 awards. *She received a

Westpac Outstanding Women Award The Westpac Outstanding Women Award (shortened to WOW Award) recognizes exceptional professional work of women in Papua New Guinea. Since its inception in 2006, when it was called the Westpac Women in Business Award, the Award has recognized the a ...

(WOW) in 2009. *She was made an Officer of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

in the

2006 Birthday Honours The Birthday Honours 2006 for the Commonwealth realms were announced on 17 June 2006, to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2006.Antigua & Barbuda list: The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour, and ...

for her services to charity.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soi, Tessie Year of birth unknown Living people Papua New Guinean women Papua New Guinean social workers University of Papua New Guinea alumni Year of birth missing (living people)