The Melanesian Foundation Inc is a non profit foundation established by Melanesian Tourist Services for the sole purpose of assisting people in remote areas of PNG to assist in improving health and education services.   There are no paid administrators, managers or staff - all services to the Foundation are contributed willingly on a voluntary basis by the Directors and friends of the foundation. Current office bearers are Chairman, Hon Sir Peter Barter, Kt OBE;  (Chairman of MTS & currently Minister of Inter Government Relations);  Br Theo Becker svd; (Treasurer of the Divine Word Missionaries);  Mr Don Kuder (Lutheran Health Service & Chairman of the PNG Churches Medical Council) & Mrs Maureen Hill, MBE (President of Madang Red Cross).

The main ongoing activity of the Melanesian Foundation is the funding, manufacture and delivery of school desks both aboard the Melanesian Discoverer and to inland areas of the Madang, Sepik, Milne Bay Provinces.   An average of 900 double desks are supplied annually which over a 25 year period has resulted in more than 20,000 desks providing seating at schools of 40,000 - no mean achievement given the logistics of operating a foundation in PNG.

In addition to school desks, the Melanesian Foundation has undertaken numerous projects in cooperation with various other NGO's.  These include major maintenance of the Saidor and Bogia Health Centres (Rural Hospitals), the construction of first aid posts at Matuka, Biliau, Bang, Kambaku, Wangeto, Bok and at present at Pt Kiau on Long Island.   The ongoing maintenance of 150 health radios in the Madang Province.

The Melanesian Foundation operates a R44 Raven 2 helicopter and provides medivacs throughout the Madang Province.  The helicopter is also used to undertake repairs to radios, deliver health supplies and undertake various missions on behalf of the Christian Churches in Madang.

A complete list of all projects funded by Melanesian Foundation is available upon request. 

In 2000 the Melanesian Foundation received the PATA Gold Award for Heritage & Culture for its work in providing helping to ensure that people benefited through the development of tourism in PNG.

The Foundation raises funds through donations by our clients who are placed under no obligation to contribute, the staff contribute 50% of their gratuities towards the foundation and the company underwrites most of the projects and contributes substantially to the foundation.

For further information regarding the Foundation, or for information in how donations can be made please send email to pbarter@mtspng.com or write to Chairman, Melanesian Foundation Inc, P.O. Box 707, Madang, Papua New Guinea.