About us

My name is Dave Cavill, I am 66 years old, born in Lyndhurst Hampshire, England. When I finished my apprenticeship with Esso (Exxon) as a boilermaker at 20 years old I left for Africa. I spent 20 years there. With the demise of Rhodesia, I closed my engineering company and retired; not for long though. A call came from Papua New Guinea where they where about to build a power station. The Pacific is completely different to anything I've ever known. Hence I've spent the last 25 years here. I met & married Walo now 51, from Hula Village down the coast of P.N.G. We have been married for 23 years. We have lived here, amongst the grass roots people for all of that time. We have no children. However, after watching the great lack of services; e.g. schools, hospitals, Walo & I decided to start DahCavill School in 2001.

We based the school’s code of conduct on Melanesian Values, with a strong emphasis on eliminating superstitious beliefs and reinforcing self-esteem and the virtues of diligence and honesty. So our only child was brought into being - DAHCavill Anona (Land). The 'H' in the name is 'HARI' (Motu for 'NOW') given to me at a special ceremony where I became a member of the Landowner family. Dysfunctional as it is, that's what Walo & I had to use. Since then I have become Administrator (Chief) of a large area of land. On that land resides every ethnic group of PNG. Unfortunately the area also has the distinction of being one of the poorest (and it is also known as the most dangerous criminal area of all of PNG!)

Our Awards

For DAHCavill School to survive and continue its work, Walo & I took on the task of changing the area's notoriety. We had no finance, and real academic qualifications, however we had a few highly undervalued tools: an advanced knowledge of Melanesian Values well tried & tested; a vast number of Melanesian kids all around us who required our help ; and a never ending belief that we could make a real contribution to the families and the children in the area. With only those tools and some considerable help from our friends in the private sector, we are starting to see some of the hard work paying off. “Our success stories”. With the continued support of the people around us we are sure that that the children that attend our school will go onto make a real difference in the community for generations to come.

Our School Farm is providing breakfast & lunch for each child & the Mommas & Poppas who have become teachers here. Not only that, the kids take veges home to feed their families. The School runs 24/7 all year. Every day we were swamped with kids & parents - time to build a Village Hall!

The kids start here at 2 years old onwards. According to Melanesian custom, no one is turned away. It's quite common to see 10 to 15 year olds teaching their Bubu's (Grandparents) at 70 year old, how to operate a computer. All this with No School Fees. You see here in the Rural Sector, (the majority of PNG) there is no money. We are hunters & gatherers. To survive, we have to be damned good at it! This year we hope to prosper.

If I tried to list all the PEOPLE that have made the 'magic swamp' possible, let alone how far it's come, I would be writing for the next five years. Apart from Melanesian Values & the kids, there's only one person, that without her none of this would be. That is my Dearest wife Walo. Thanks my girl!

David Alfred Hari Cavill

Support of the school in anyway is always greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

If you would like to provide specific support the DahCavill Customary School please see our "wish list"

DahCavill Customary School
P.O. Box 2107, Boroko, NCD 111
Papua New Guinea
T: +675 325 4856 - E: click to contact us