Koibuga Youth Encouraged to Build Life on Values

Mt Hagen: Koibuga Parish held its Youth Talent Show from June 23 to 27, 2025. The event brought together young people from all walks of life—primary and high school students, village youth, school drop-outs, and married youth. The week was filled with singing, drama, laughter, and moments of deep reflection.

The dynamic youth take a group picture after the program.

On June 24, Parish Priest Fr. Andrew Kangal invited the Family Life Office to speak to the youth. The family life coordinator gave the talk at a time when many young people are facing serious challenges: unemployment, peer pressure, alcohol and drug use, premarital sex, early pregnancies, and school drop-outs.

To respond to these issues, the Family Life Office presented the theme: “Build Life on Values.”

They encouraged the youth to embrace values like honesty, respect, responsibility, and self-control. These values, they said, are not just nice ideas, they are firm foundations. They help young people make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and stay on the right path, even in hard times. 

The message was clear: No matter where you come from or what you are going through, your values can lead you forward. Your situation does not define your future, your values do.

Many youth shared that they felt uplifted after the talk. It gave them a new sense of hope, and reminded them of their worth. Even small choices, when guided by the right values, can lead to a successful and meaningful life.

The message was also closely tied to the Diocesan Pastoral Plan theme: “We journey with Jesus to strengthen the faith of youth and children.” The event echoed the spirit of the Year of Jubilee, with its guiding theme: “Pilgrims of Hope.” Youth were reminded that they, too, are on a journey, a journey of growth and faith, and that values are like the walking stick they can lean on as they move into the future.

Koibuga Parish and the Family Life Office hope that the seeds planted during this special week will continue to grow in the hearts of the youth. A life built on values is a life built to endure.