How Digicel Foundation gave rise to a small Building Construction Company

By Michelle Amba

Charlie and Elizabeth Tumun, the owners of Charpez Construction today own business assets close to a million kina. Charpez Construction now employs 40 people and has its head office in Banz, Jiwaka Province. Their story is about perseverance and having the courage and motivation to succeed in what they dreamed of pursuing. When Charlie was terminated from his formal employment as Factory Manager with an Australian Company Gilsenan Melpa in 2011, he never wanted to work for anyone else; he wanted to be his own boss. He says his termination was based on allegation which he had no fault in. He accepted his termination, telling himself that he would one day own a company and never wanted to work for anyone else. That was a year after he had registered Charpez Construction. “I started off with no resources, no vehicles, no workman and no money, I only had one thing I was sure of and that was faith,” said Charlie. Charlie started off doing small things here and there. Because he was a tradesman he used that know how to do things for the small business. He registered the business while working before he was terminated. Our first formal business was in 2010 were we built a Car Shed for the Highlands Regional Labour Department Head, Mr. Thomas Tape. That was when we received our first cheque of K 19, 000. It was through its first client who engaged Charpez as a sub contractor for an Australian Government Aid Funded project in Tsak Valley, Enga Province. That was when the owner met an important business partner who gave us the opportunity to be one of Digicel Foundation’s Contractors. Charlie met Dara Okuk in Tsak Valley in 2010 during the opening of the classroom. She was representing the project financier at the ceremony. Her connection with Jiwaka Province through her childhood and family connection led her to have an interest in this small Jiwaka based Building Construction Company. “Three years after meeting Dara, I received a phone call from her she was with Digicel Foundation as a Senior Project Manageress seeking potential contractors to implement projects. I was then cooking and selling flour balls (scones) at a Kaibar I was renting in Banz,” recalled Charlie. “I would say it was through God’s Grace we were asked to bid for a project. That was our break through; I never imagined Charpez, being recommended for big projects and with a reputable organization like Digicel Foundation, “concluded Mr. Tumun. “Our bid got through and we were contracted by Digicel Foundation to build a classroom in Neibilyer, Western Highlands Province. We were told that if we pass this we would be recommended for future projects. We were graded 100 per cent by Digicel Foundation,” said Charlie. After that, Charpez have never looked back. Mr. Tumun is thanking Digicel Foundation for changing the lives of many unfortunate Papua New Guineans and he is proud to be one of those many that had the opportunity to grow. Digicel Foundation goes to the most remote places in PNG. Some of the most remote places that Charpez has delivered, includes Snow Pass in Bundi, Morobe Province, Biwat in East Sepik Province ,Yellow River West Sepik Province to name a few. Through the Foundation and the contracts it has engaged many village boys as its employees. These young men have never travelled in an airplane, a ship or even a helicopter. Through this fortunate engagement, they have travelled extensively; we have built 32 classrooms, libraries and aid posts. Charpez has built classrooms and libraries in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Southern Highlands, Eastern Highlands, East and West New Britain, Enga, East and West Sepik, Simbu Hela, Western Highlands, Morobe and Jiwaka provinces. Charlie concluded, “there are many small to medium enterprises like Charpez in the country but they are competing with giants who already have business influence and political links where contracts can easily be sought. Digicel Foundation is the only business that we are engaged in we see tenders and we do bid but contracts are given to big business that already have millions of kina and resources.” Charpez has now ventured into property, hospitality, hire car and timber milling. The company manufactures furniture for home and schools like desks and tables. It also provides logistics in terms of delivery. The company can be contacted via email: charpez@gmail.com.