Pastor Tania Parenduo and her husband Clement in Nambare, East Sepik Province, successfully processed cocoa beans in their six-by-five-meter solar dryer shed, surrounded by the rich smell of drying Cocoa fills. This achievement was made possible by the solar dryer shed, provided through a partnership between the Australian Government and cocoa exporter Outspan Limited, greatly improving their lives. For years, the couple dried cocoa beans over a woodfired kiln, a labor-intensive process with constant firewood gathering and the risk of woodsmoke reducing cocoa quality and market value. The solar dryer shed has changed all that. Now they can dry their cocoa with much less effort and expense, and with much better results in terms of quality. Pastor Tania says having the solar dryer has dramatically improved their lives. Improved cocoa quality and rising global prices have significantly increased the family's income, benefiting both them and their community. Pastor Tania is a community leader in addition to farming. The extra income has allowed her family to build a women’s resource center, an early learning facility, and a church. They can now afford their daughter's tuition at Pacific Adventist University, and their younger children have bicycles to commute to school. "I am a happier wife and mother," Pastor Tania affirms. "My workload has significantly decreased, allowing me to fulfill my other responsibilities more effectively." The Australia-Outspan initiative provided solar dryers to 35 cocoa fermentary owners in East Sepik, improving cocoa quality, reducing labor, costs and environmental impact, and empowering women farmers like Pastor Tania. Outspan Project Manager James Suanga and extension officers have trained farmers to use solar dryers, boosting productivity and improving livelihoods. This initiative reflects Australia's commitment to fostering a resilient, diversified economy in PNG and enhancing living standards for its people.