One morning, 14 years ago at the Ramu NiCo headquarters in Madang, Vero Bonamedura and Rose Moti, walked into the company conference room to be interviewed by the Ramu NiCo Human Resource team.

The year was 2011 when they first crossed paths at the glass-walled interview room of the only nickel and cobalt mine in the country. Both women, each 36 years old at that time were filled with a mix of excitement and nerves as they sat side by side, waiting for their interviews.

The air was thick with anticipation, and a shared glance quickly turned into a brief smile—an unspoken connection that hinted at the friendship that was yet to blossom.

Few days after their first meeting, they met again at the same private clinic for a medical check, each thinking that the other was there for a separate reason not knowing they were there for the same company requirement.

On the morning of 02 May, 2011, Bonamedura and Moti met again at the Ramu NiCo office and signed their employment contract with the company before they start their first day at work,

Moti was recruited as the secretary to the General Manager for Community Affairs Department and Bonamedura was recruited as the Logistic and Administration officer also for the dame department.

Both attended Lae Technical College (now Lae Poly Tech) at different time with the support of their caring parents who had made sure their daughters received the best education they could afford. Bonamedura graduated with a diploma in Business Administration and Moti graduated with a Certificate in Basic Secretarial Course – Pett Course Certificate..

Moti’s father was from Lopahan village in Manus and mother from Savanaut in Gawi LLG, Wosera Gawi district in East Sepik while Bonamedura’s mother was from Womatne in Kundiawa, Simbu and father was from Kunjingini in Wosera, Woseara Gawi LLG district in East Sepik.

They recalled a female employee at that time accompanied them to the Community Affairs building and opened a door to an office and introduced them to their new working environment.

Both Bonamedura and Moti thought each will be assigned to a different office but found themselves sitting next to each other.

Moti as the Secretary to the General Manager of the Community Affairs Department, and Bonamedura as the Admin Officer of Logistics.

Little did they know that their common starting point would lay the foundation for a friendship that would endure the tests of time.

Every moment from then on, they built that friendship from work colleague to more than just friends, they saw themselves as family.

“We were once strangers, and have become more than just colleagues; we are now like family,” Moti said smiling.

“Never in these 14years we argue or quarrel with each other,” Bonamedura added.

Community Affairs Department is a very challenging department in Ramu NiCo where they come in contact with the demands and pressures of landowner issues.

Bonamedura said they leant to be patient and handle situations with care and the challenges they encounter molded and shaped them into strong women who worked to get things done.

She said their former boss Martin Paining usually challenge them specific tasks done.

“I don’t want to hear stories, just get the job done,” Mr. Paining would always advise them.

Both women thanked Ramu NiCo for recognizing their potential to work for the company in the last 14 years.

The last 14 years they served Ramu NiCo have helped them sustained their families.

Fast forward to the present day, both women have become seasoned professionals; Moti is the Administration Officer for Community Affairs, while Bonamedura has transitioned to the role of Gender Development Officer in the same department.

Bonamedura is closely facilitating women projects in the Ramu NiCo mine footprints. One of the successful women groups that Bonamedura has been actively involved in getting projects done is the Coastal Pipeline Women Association (CPL).

She has recently facilitated for the CPL Women Association to have their community learning center constructed in Lalok village, Astrolabe Bay Local Level Government in Raicoast district in Madang.

That was the first of its kind project where the company signed an MOA with a local contractor to build the center for the women to learn different life skills training.

Women and girls in the Coastal Pipeline area of Ramu NiCo can now learn how cook, bake, sew clothes and learn many other things to sustain themselves and their families in a comfortable and fitting environment using the community learning center.

Bonamedura is happy to be part of the dynamic team of Community Affairs to get the project off the ground.