Ukarumpa  Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea
Location of Ukarumpa in Papua New Guinea
Population:	500
Main languages:	English
Elevation:	1,500 m (4,921 ft)
Coordinates:	6°20′0″S 145°54′0″E / 6.333333°S 145.9°E / -6.333333; 145.9[clarification needed]
Location:	11 km (7 mi) from Kainantu
Aerial photo of Ukarumpa in the 1970s

Ukarumpa is an intentional community that is the main center for Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) in Papua New Guinea, located in the Eastern Highlands Province. It lies approximately 7 miles (11 km) by road from Kainantu in the Aiyura Valley. The population consists of a variety of Christian workers, their families and employees. The base was established in the mid-1950s by Wycliffe Bible Translators. The current population is approximately 1000. The function of Ukarumpa is to serve as an operations base for translators, linguists, literacy specialists, teachers and other professionals who are mainly volunteer workers with SIL. SIL International is a sister organization to Wycliffe Bible Translators, and is a world-class scientific organization with a strong emphasis on linguistic research and literacy, as well as translation^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] History

The 99 year lease for the 500 acres (2 km²) at Ukarumpa was signed by Dick Pittman, accompanied by founding Director, Dr. James C. ("Jim") Dean for the Summer Institute of Linguistics on October 4, 1956. Jim Dean, his wife Gladys and their four children, Sharon, Timothy, Roseann and David, took up residence at Ukarumpa later that month in a native-materials house called the "Philippine House," so named because it was built on stilts. Their fifth child, Jonathan, was born in the then-Australian Trust Territory of New Guinea. Jim Dean was the founding Director of Wycliffe Bible Translators and S.I.L. on the island of New Guinea, and remained as Director until he was reassigned to establish the mission's operations in India in the mid 1960's.

The 500 acres had been the "Peacock Plantation," a failed commercial venture. Before that, however, it was a plot of land disputed over by surrounding tribes (and traditional enemies), the Gadsup and Tairora. Because the land was technically vacant in the mid-1950's, the Australian administrators saw it as the ideal place for SIL's base, but this had been the enemy tribes' traditional fighting ground, and tribal skirmishes and clashes continued over the intervening decades.^{[citation needed]}

Originally the land was open kunai (a type of waist-high grass with sharp-edged leaves) with few trees and no development, although it was fertile land for gardens, with the Bae'e river running through it. The missionaries built homes and planted trees which continue to attract bird life. All of the buildings and roads were built by mission volunteers with financial donations from churches in their home countries.^{[citation needed]}

Ukarumpa viewed from "Lone Tree Hill"

[edit] Teen Life in Ukarumpa

There is an international school on the center, and the Teen Centre, a place for people to eat dinner out on Friday nights, as well as being the popular hang-out place for teens on Friday and Saturday nights. Teen Centre also provides paying jobs for the teens. Teens can do sports at the high school, and there is also a motorbike club where Teens can drive motorbikes on a track near by.

Ukarumpa Medical Clinic

[edit] Significant buildings

• The Rankin Moffett memorial meeting house. Cement wall panels and corrugated metal roof construction. This building is the meeting place for church meetings, school productions, movie nights, and anything else that might need a stage and/or lots of seating.
• The Saw Mill (one of the first western style buildings) - Corrugated Iron walls and roof.
• The Linguistic Centre and Library - notable architecture designed by Jack Ruth.
• Dorelo, Teen Manor, Rhema, ECP, Townsend, Lutheran and other children's homes. These are also called "Hostels." They are where the youth stay when their parents move to their villages to translate the Bible or do other missionary work.
• The clinic.
• The Store. Its name is actually "SIL Members Store" but since it is the only store in Ukarumpa it is generally referred to simply as "the store." Corrugated iron roof and walls.
• The radio shack and telephone building (now called "CTS").
• The engineering workshop and auto shop.
• Ukarumpa International School
• The post office.
• The Memorial Teen Centre - (A memorial to Jackie Ruth and Ross Entz, Ukarumpa Teens who each died in vehicle accidents in 1975). (Almost) every Friday they serve burgers and other traditional fast foods.
• The Printshop.
• The Guesthouse
• The Fire station next to Dodson's old house (knocked down in late 1970s).

[edit] Geographical Notes

The complex is at an altitude of approximately 5200 feet (or 1500 m). The climate is Equatorial Highland; there are cool days and nights, with daily afternoon rains between November and March.

The flora are primarily Evergreen trees (Pine, Eucalyptus, Casuarina); there are also Coffee plantations nearby, and Kunai grass covered hills.

The complex is located on the Bae'e River. The Bae'e originates upstream from Ukarumpa and runs past the Gadsup village on to Kainantu.

[edit] See also

• Ukarumpa International School (formerly known as Ukarumpa High School and Aiyura International Primary School)