Young People: Source of PNG’s Salvation
- Nigel Akuani
Port Moresby: Young people are the key to PNG’s salvation but more tangible input needs to be invested in them starting today. The bold statement was expressed by students of Don Bosco Technological Institute during Chatroom’s first session for 2020 on Wednesday 4th March, at the Tribe-FM studio.
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The five students went live on radio to discuss the topic, ‘Young people key to taking back PNG’. The session was also shared on Tribe-FM’s Facebook page through the use of live-streaming.
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All doing their Final-Fourth Year of studies in various fields, their discussion dwelled on the topic’s various aspects; from issues affecting youths, need for more tangible input from government departments and organisations, impact of the social framework in many
PNG societies, role of early Christian practices in family, and a strong call to the Marape-
DBTI students with their teacher and Chatroom host pose for a shot.
Steven government for a proactive approach in assisting young people.
Emmanuellah Babat, Electronics and Communication (EC) Bachelor, explained that though youths made the bulk of the population, they were still disregarded and deprived from their right to basic necessities in life. “Education and homes are nothing but a dream for many of our young people. 60-percent of PNG’s population is comprised of youths under the age of 25, many of whom are homeless with no one to care for them, and homeless living in the streets of urban centres and bushes of remote areas,” she said.
Education Automotive Bachelor,Mathew Polume, spoke on the need for more concrete and fully funded opportunities to be provided to young people. “There has to be more done on a broader scale to train and enhance more of our young people. We are the ones that will have to eventually step up in managing our country, resources and people,” he said.
Koi Aitaipo Bachelor, studying Education Technical Automotive, emphasised on how social interactions played a fundamental role in shaping the personality of a young person as they grew older. “When a child constantly goes through positive experiences either through statements made or actions shown, as they grow older, they develop an always positive outlook in life ignoring the negative. These are the young people we need,” he said.
Also studying EC, Julie Gun highlighted the importance of a safe and conducive home and said that this was only achievable when families were guided by proper Christian values. “How a child turns out to be in future depends entirely on the type of family they come from. There needs to be more emphasis made on family formation guided by Christian values and this requires support especially from the Department of Community and Religion,” she said.
EC student Mclynne Maki, called for the government and people to play a shared responsibility in supporting youths. “The government provides the funding, equipment, infrastructure, and the people utilize these resources whilst closely engaging young people in youth capacity building initiatives,” she said.
She urged for youths and adults to stop the blame-game and to start taking initiative in finding a plausible solution to help themselves. She ended their discussion reflecting on the famous quote given by 35thUnited States President John F Kennedy, “Do not ask what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country.”
Chatroom’s next session on March 11th will have students from Don Bosco Techical School discuss the topic ‘Importance of positive young minds’.