When Aidah Kenneth, the Branch officer for PNG Red Cross Society AROB branch, was named one of the first recipients of the Family Links Medal, it was a proud moment not just for her but for her family, her fellow volunteers, the people of Bougainville, and Papua New Guinea as a whole.

The medal was officially awarded on October 27th in Geneva, 2024, during the Red Cross and Red Crescent Council of Delegates meeting. Aidah was among five individuals recognised from around the world for their outstanding work in Restoring Family Links (RFL), a humanitarian service that reconnects families separated by war, disaster, and other crises.

Because Aidah couldn’t travel to Geneva, PNGRCS National Council Chairman received the medal on her behalf. Once it arrived in PNG, the National Society decided it was important that the people who stood beside her on this journey, her family, the community in Bougainville, PNGRCS volunteers, and the people of Papua New Guinea, should also witness this moment.

To honour this shared achievement, the medal was presented to Aidah at three different events. The first was in Bougainville, where her family, local leaders, and community members came together to celebrate her life’s work. The second took place at the PNG Red Cross Society’s General Assembly in Port Moresby, where Red Cross leaders and volunteers recognised her years of service.

At the final presentation was during the PNGRCS’s 2025 Corporate Fundraising Dinner, His Excellency Sir Bob Dadae, Governor General and Patron of PNGRCS, personally handed the medal to Aidah. Her immediate family, Movement partners, corporate supporters, and guests witnessed and celebrated this moment of recognition.

Aidah Reflects on her Restoring Family Links Journey

Aidah Kenneth, the branch officer with the Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society, was among 5 people to receive the first-ever Family Links Medal on October 27th in Geneva during the Red Cross and Red Crescent Council of Delegates meeting.

This medal pays tribute to and recognizes individuals or groups of individuals (first and foremost staff and volunteers of the Movement) who have provided outstanding services in the field of restoring family links, whether in situations of armed conflict, other situations of violence, disasters or other situations requiring a humanitarian response, including in the context of migration.

” Aidah shared in her acceptance speech. “This award reflects the collective work of the entire Red Cross family. We work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to connect separated families, locate missing loved ones, and deliver hope across borders.”

Aidah’s began her journey as a volunteer with the Papua New Guinea Red Cross with the AROB branch for 12 years before joining as a permanent staff member in 2017, where she works as the AROB branch officer to this day.

Aidah is a native of Tegese, in the Haku Constituency of Buka District in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. A province that still bears the scars of the devastating Bougainville conflict (1988–1998), which left many families searching for lost loved ones even after 25 years.

“The Bougainville conflict tore our communities apart,” Aidah recalls. “My own family was affected. I managed to escape the conflict, but my family did not. The Pain of being disconnected from my family for years was unbearable.”

These personal wounds drove her to dedicate her life to reconnecting separated families and offering a path toward healing through the Restoring Family Links (RFL)Service. A service supported and funded by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Papua New Guinea through the delegation office in Buka.

“The pain of separation is immense,” she explained. “I wanted families to put closure on the past and move forward.”

Even 25 years after the conflict ended, many families still do not know the fate and whereabouts of their missing loved ones.

Aidah describes her work as both complex and rewarding. Each case is unique, from the initial registration to the emotional reunions, requiring sensitivity, perseverance, and often facing logistics challenges. Aidah’s process begins with registering each request, gathering information, and verifying identities, a procedure that requires a lot of patience, given the remote and isolated villages she often travels to.

One of Aidah’s most memorable cases was a visit to the wife of a detainee (formerly known as prisoners of war), residing hours away by boat at the base of Mount Bagana. The detainee’s wife had cut off contact with her husband for nearly eight years, refusing to accept his Red Cross message (RCM is an unsealed letter containing exclusively family-related content) when Aidah presented it to her.

“I travelled 4 hours by boat and trekked almost an hour to reach her,” Aidah recalled. “When I arrived, she was shocked and initially resisted, but I reminded her of the detainee’s right to reach his family and the importance of closure for her children.”

Aidah’s persistence broke through the deep barriers of anger and hurt. Finally, the woman agreed to read her husband’s message, later breaking into tears and embracing Aidah as she vowed to reunite her family. The family has since reconnected and is rebuilding their life together.

Moments like these fuel Aidah’s dedication to her work, despite the physical and emotional challenges.

“I always ensure that I deliver every message, no matter how difficult the journey or how long it takes,” she says. “It’s about the people, their right to know the fate of their loved ones.  

Aidah’s role demands a lot of emotional strength. She is aware of the weight of her work and the hopes she represents for families still waiting for answers.

“I’ve shared in both the overwhelming relief of mothers discovering their children’s whereabouts and the sorrow of families who are still waiting,” Aidah reflects.

To cope, she has equipped herself with trauma counselling skills and developed a strong support network within local communities and the Red Cross volunteers.

“It’s about surviving, enduring, and overcoming the challenges posed by separation and loss,” she explains.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), through the Buka delegation, has been a constant source of support for Aidah and the volunteers, providing training, resources, and funding needed to carry out RFL Services.

“We have an obligation to deliver, to at least attempt to unite the missing person with their loved ones,” Aidah notes. “This medal reaffirms our commitment, from the branch level to headquarters.”

Receiving the Restoring Family Links Medal, Aidah hopes to amplify the importance of humanitarian work in Bougainville and Papua New Guinea.

“Our mission is to build an accessible, compassionate, and effective RFL process that meets the growing needs of displaced families,” she envisions. She hopes for expanded digital tools, improved coordination, and enhanced mental health support for affected families.

Since 2017, despite limited resources, Aidah has recruited and trained over 25 dedicated volunteers across AROB, helping bring healing and hope to families still affected by the conflict. Her leadership has also opened doors for legislative work on missing persons, ensuring these families are not forgotten even 25 years later.

The Family Links Medal honours her resilience, compassion, and commitment. But Aidah insists she did not achieve this alone.

“This is not just my story,” she says. “This is for all the volunteers, all the families in Bougainville, and all those who still wait for news. We carry this mission together.”

Aidah Kenneth

“Never lose hope she encourages. Keep working with us. Together, we can help families heal and move forward.”