Chocol Sawe is an energetic and inspiring young Leader within the Kasua villages around Mount Bosavi. When Chocol’s father passed away while he was still very young, he was taken under the wing and adopted by Sigalo, head of the Soabesi Clan with unsurpassed knowledge of Kasua culture and lore.  

As a talented and conscientious student, through scholarships Chocol was given the opportunity to pursue his schooling all the way through to year 12, a particularly rare achievement in his remote and isolated part of Papua New Guinea. Completing his High School Certificate at the regional Kutubu Secondary School, Chocol learned to speak, read and write English with confidence. Combined with his friendly and outgoing personality and strong natural leader ship skills, he became a spokesman on key issues on behalf of his community from a relatively young age. 

Occasional visits from academics into the Kasua homelands culminated in 2009 with the arrival of a BBC film crew to film the documentary, Lost Land of the Volcano. All the natural characteristics that make Chocol a phenomenal came to the fore. He played an instrumental role as the key point of liaison between the expedition team and the local community. 

Chocol remains unwavering in his belief that the world will one day recognise and reward the Kasua people for the commitment they have shown in preserving one of the world’s most unique and pristine ecosystems in the face of interest from loggers, mining companies and other extractive forces. Chocol says [translated from Tok Pisin]

“Sustainability is the key to true development. We must look after our ground, look after our birds, look after the animals, look after the water. How it is now, it needs to be the same when my young children take over. If the land is destroyed when I give it to my children, their life will be no good, this is not development.” 

“Many places in the world have destroyed their environment. They have cut it down or dug it up, or put concrete all over it, and they have lost their culture. For me, I want my children and their children to get a good education, and to have opportunities. But I also want them to be able to walk into the bush if they’re hungry and know what they can eat. If they are sick or injured, to know which plants they can use to heal themselves. That to me is development.”

As a Community Organiser, Chocol is patient, fair, generous and selfless. He lives in Seane Falls Village with his wife Esther and his children Maxi, Charles, Cathy and Blake.