Drug producers wants alternative life.

Part of the Workshop attendants who surrender and accept
Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and wanted Change.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC PNG) through Evangelism Department under Social-Concern Division and Youth Division with assistance from Community Development and Land Rights Advocator Mr. Reuben Mete have embarked on a mission to reduce the negative impact of Drug and Alcohol that has posed in Papua New Guinea communities. The team strategically aims to teach, inspire and motivate mostly the young generation of PNG out of the Marijuana culture which has rooted in many societies.

The ELC PNG team piloted the campaign in Rihona Memorial Circuit of ELC-Kainantu District in the Eastern Highlands Province on the 25^th to 30^thAugust 2013. Rihona in the Dunatina Local Level Government is known to be the first and also the major centre of marijuana production and distribution in PNG.

The week long program of the interactive workshop and awareness involves mostly the youths, helping them to understand the negative social impacts of drug and alcohol on the societies and negative health impact drug and alcohol have on human body. The awareness was facilitated by ELC-PNG Social-Concern Director, Rev. Sere Muhuyu with accompanied powerful and inspirational bible studies by Rev. Matei Ibak at a self-built Youth Development Centre of Rihona Circuit, Hagere village.

One of the Marijuana Growers, consumers and distributors
who surrender his old habit and wanted alterative living.

The workshop identified and categorized the 121 participants into three groups. The first group being the non-marijuana consumers, non-producers and non-distributors while the second group being the distributors. The final group consists of producers, consumers and distributors.

The group members were given opportunities to share their insight after being made aware of the many negative impacts they have posed on their societies thus it was an emotional sessions when some even wept openly and went down on their knees to apologies, confess and seeking God’s forgiveness after realizing how much negative impacts they have caused to the society and the country at large.

Rev. Muhuyu said the way forward now is to really help these young people become positively participate in the socio-economic development of their societies after they have willingly and fully give up on these negative attitudes. It is important to effectively isolate them and rehabilitate them for some period of time and to strategically refocus their energy and potentials on other positive economical activities. The youths can also be train and use as vibrant advocators against marijuana to also have more impact on others.

Rev. Sere Muhuyu pointed out that to achieve this it needs collaborative support from concerned government agencies, churches, NGOs and other organization. “We all need to mobilize resources together to see a positive outcome to this long dilemma that has decayed our society” Rev. Muhuyu said.

“We are expecting multitude of young people involved in marijuana who will be willing to give up these habits; but how do we move forward with them once they confess and express their willingness to contribute meaningfully to the society? This is the challenge we have before us and may God help us move forward with whatever resources we have” Rev. Muhuyu expressed.

"The successful outcome of this one week workshop is a result of a long and close interaction with the ELC-PNG National Youth Office through Ps. Matei and the youth leaders in ELC-Kainantu district and Rihona Memorial Circuit"

The Social-Concern Division and the Youth Division of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC PNG) now extends an invitation to all stakeholders interested to work together with them to reduce the impact of marijuana in Papua New Guinea Societies.

Community Development and Land Rights advocator Mr. Reuben Mete who was the guest facilitator in this weeklong workshop said the National Youth Office wanted to assist the surrendered youths to be more economically independent and more self sustainable and by getting them permanently out of Marijuana by giving them vegetables seedlings, appropriate agriculture tools and opening up vegetable markets for them as well as monitoring and evaluating the initiatives but this arrangements and plans cannot be implemented well given the minimal funding available, thus we now seek kind assistance and supports in cash or kind from any interested individuals and stakeholders to make it into a reality.

Contact Reuben Mete on mobile phone 72522667 or email reubenmete@yahoo.com.au for further information and or assistance.