View source for Ukarumpa

{{More citations needed|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Ukarumpa
| image_skyline = Ukarumpa Meeting House.jpg
| image_alt = 
| image_caption = Meeting house
| image_map = 
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = 
| pushpin_map = Papua New Guinea
| pushpin_relief = 
| coordinates = {{coord|6|20|11.6|S|145|53|06.0|E|region:PG|display=inline}}
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Papua New Guinea
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[Papua New Guinea]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Papua New Guinea|Province]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Eastern Highlands Province|Eastern Highlands]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts and LLGs of Papua New Guinea|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kainantu District]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts and LLGs of Papua New Guinea|LLG]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Kainantu Urban LLG]]
| area_total_km2 = 
| area_footnotes = 
| population_total = 600
| population_as_of = 
| population_rank = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = [[Languages of Papua New Guinea|Main languages]]
| demographics1_info1 = [[English language|English]], [[Tok Pisin]], [[Gadsup language|Gadsup]], [[Tairora language|Tairora]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 1956
| leader_title = 
| leader_name = 
| elevation_m = 1620
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 
| timezone1 = [[Time in Australia|AEST]]
| utc_offset1 = +10
| website = 
| blank_name = Location
| blank_info = {{convert|11|km|abbr=on}} from [[Kainantu]]
| blank1_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank1_info = [[Oceanic climate|Cfb]]
}}
'''Ukarumpa''' is an intentional international community that is the main centre for [[SIL International|SIL]]-PNG, located in the [[Eastern Highlands (PNG)|Eastern Highlands]] Province of [[Papua New Guinea]]. It lies approximately {{convert|11|km|mi|0}} by road from [[Kainantu]] in the [[Aiyura]] Valley.  The population consists of a variety of paid staff and volunteer staff who live nearby.  The centre was established in 1957. The current population is approximately 600. It is at an elevation of approximately 1600 m (5300 feet) above sea level.

==History==
[[File:Ukarumpa Clinic.JPG|thumb|left|Medical clinic]]
The 99-year lease for the {{convert|500|acre|km2|1}} at Ukarumpa was signed by Dick Pittman, accompanied by founding Director, Dr. James C. ("Jim") Dean for the Summer Institute of Linguistics on 4 October 1956. Jim Dean was the founding Director of the Summer Institute of Linguistics in the (then) United Nations mandated Australian Trust Territory of New Guinea and remained as Director until he was reassigned to establish the S.I.L. operations in India in the mid-1960s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ko |first=Samuel |date=2018-12-24 |title=Wycliffe mourns former director Jim Dean |url=https://www.wycliffe.ca/wycliffe-mourns-former-director-jim-dean/ |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=Wycliffe Canada |language=en-US}}</ref>

The {{convert|500|acre|km2}} had been the Peacock Plantation, a failed commercial venture. Before that, however, it was a plot of land that was used as the tribal war lands of the nearby tribes (and traditional enemies), the [[Gadsup language|Gadsup]] and [[Tairora language|Tairora]]. Because the land was vacant in the mid-1950s, and only a portion of it, near the Ba'e river, was suitable for gardens, the Australian administrators offered it as one of several potential sites for the SIL base of operations.

Originally the land was open ''[[Kunai grass|kunai]]'' (a type of waist-high grass with sharp-edged leaves) with few trees and no development.  The members built homes and planted trees which continue to attract bird life. Most of the buildings and roads were built by missionary volunteers with financial support from churches and individuals in their home countries. {{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

The function of Ukarumpa is to serve as an operations base for [[translator]]s, [[linguistics|linguist]]s, literacy specialists, teachers and other professionals, who are mainly volunteer workers with SIL. [[SIL International]] is an organisation that places a strong emphasis on linguistic research and Bible translation.

==Geography==
[[File:Ukarumpa from One Tree Hill.JPG|thumb|right|Ukarumpa viewed from the "Lone Tree Hill"]]
Ukarumpa is located on the [[Bae'e River|Ba'e River]]. The Ba'e originates upstream from Ukarumpa and runs through the [[Gadsup people|Gadsup]] area on to [[Kainantu]]. It lies at an altitude of approximately {{convert|1620|m|ft|-2}}. 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.

==Infrastructure==
===Airstrip===
Ukarumpa has its own [[Aiyura Airport|air strip]] located about a mile outside the compound which is home to a fleet of [[STOL]] aircraft operated by SIL.

<sub>''read more: [[Aiyura Airport]]''</sub>

=== Store ===
A store run by SIL is the missionaries' source of most general goods like food, toiletries, and office supplies. The store is open to both SIL members as well as non-members although members are granted a 10% discount on all items at the store. 

=== School ===
Ukarumpa has a primary school and a secondary school within the compound to provide good education to the children of the missionaries. 

<sub>''read more: [[Ukarumpa International School]]''</sub>

==See also==
* [[Ukarumpa International School]]
* [[Aiyura Airport]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://ukarumpainternationalschool.org/ Ukarumpa International School website]
* [http://www.pnglanguages.sil.org/resources SIL PNG Website on PNG languages]
* [http://www.silpng.org/ SIL PNG]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Eastern Highlands Province]]