Morobe
Provincial Youth Development Workshop
May 08th
2015
Salvation Army Conference Room
Participants Address by Reuben Mete
[PPA Community
Development; Dignitaries; Ladies and Gentleman]
As these Community
Development Officers, Youth Workers and Stakeholders dealing with young people
from Morobe knew and as the rest of you may heard the saying ‘Youths are
leaders for tomorrow,’ but our youths should be provided the opportunities now.
And so, no one will be benefiting from our young people if we keep allowing
them to remain silent.
Apparently
agreed that at the ripe youth old age of 30 later this year, I felt I was not
worth holding on to youth leadership as the National Director of ELCPNG.
However, sadly to what Hon. Jim Kass, Madang regional governor says as reported
by the National Newspaper that in PNG, we still have some of the oldest youths
on earth.
One
of our participants told us yesterday about the advanced age of some people
he’s seen involved, and the need of establishing Youth Mentorship Programs. I
have decided I am not going to end up on any retirement scrapheap here in Youth
work but by becoming as a mentor.
My brother Richard Gura, a
representative from the Morobe Provincial AIDS Council has urged me to tell you
about how HIV AIDS is increasing at an alarmin rate within the province and is
penetrating into our rural innocent population and what happened after – we are
all sitting on a time bomb. Well, briefly, I was threatened to take extra
precautions when travelling up the Markham Hi-way by my big sister from Markham
District due to high rise of prostitution.
If
my speech today went on air and if the story became a front page in the PNG print
and most liked on social media about the accepting of this foreign and alien
inventions occupying our beloved province that once stood on the Christian
Principles – and once sing the hymn Stand up Stand up for Jesus; I would simply
stuck my tail in my back and go to a distance place and never to be seen again.
Turning to more serious matters, I
really welcome this initiative for young leaders of Morobe Province to have a
workable plan (2015 – 2020). A platform for our young men and women to raise
their voice and concerns on their problems and issues.
And as a child at a Lutheran primary
school in some years ago we were constantly being told about the work of the Girl
Guides and Scouts in Morobe Province. But
a lot of those important youth links have faded away by the ignorance of our
leaders these days by which I find appalling. One of the reasons is that the older
generation and the youth generation relationship gets far too neglected at this
end – especially by the mandated legislators.
I
have a bit of trouble with this constant labelling of our youths as ‘drug
bodies’ as if we don’t event take medical drugs. I’ll admit it’s true in the squatter
settlements and streets of Lae and other peri-urban centres. In fact I can see
many drug bodies in this room. Out in
the villages I much prefer the label that somebody comes up with years ago,
“subsistence affluence”. The people of PNG have fed themselves for thousands of
years without any support from anybody.
However, I have to agree with some of
the discussion we have had after the UNFPA presentation especially on the
Post-2015 Youth Led Development agendas.
One aspect of this gathering I was
pleased to see was the involvement of all stakeholders dealing with Youths
within the province, something we should give credit to the Division of
Community Development and the organizers.
The other subject I was pleased to see
raised on a few occasions was sport. Morobeens love their sport and they are
good at it. I think that we been crown the overall winner of the last PNG Games
is the proof – ASA Sumbac. Same Speed Same Speed!
Owen, spoke about how our Provincial
Capital and the Industrial Hub of Papua New Guinea, our beloved Lae City
doesn’t seem to have any children’s playing parks and recreational areas where
we can have youth bridging programs from childhood to youth.
Finally, I must congratulate United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the National Youth Development Authority
for providing resources and expertise in developing this 5 Year Morobe
Provincial Youth Plan (2015 – 2020).
I would like to also thank the Salvation Army Church to
allow us to use their Conference facilities and their hospitality service over
the last few days. I’d also like the Forestry Research
Institute by using their podium now.
I
am glad to see that my province is embarking on Investing in today’s youth for tomorrow’s benefits by seeing that every young person’s potentials is
fulfilled. Today, we have seen
clearly that our young people can offer their province an opportunity to
transform its future.
Together
with my other participants, we are glad to be part of what the unborn
generation should take proud of – the final drafting of The 5 Year Morobe
Provincial Youth Plan.
Thank
you all and may God Bless.
