CITY MISSION EQUIPPING MOROBE YOUTH TO UPLIFT THEIR COMMUNITIES

Pioneers of the City Mission TVET program in Lae.

CITY Mission PNG’s multi-faceted approach, which includes literacy, life skills and moral training based on Christian values, is giving marginalised youths of Morobe the tools to help uplift their communities.
For the past 21 years, the Mission has taken young men off the streets and provided them with an opportunity to become responsible members of their community.

Originally through its Port Moresby chapter and now in Lae, the Mission offers life skills training for young men help them avoid crime and life on the streets. The Lae operation was launched in 2006 with the Suambu plantation, Buablung Hostel, Haus Clare and finally the Meri Seif Haus in 2 Mile settlement.
The organisation is now offering Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) to 150 marginalised youths that live on the Suambu Plantation at 10 Mile outside Lae City.

The program provides valuable work experience and windows of possibility to these young men. A major component of this life skills program is providing a network of emotional support to enhance their confidence and instil positivity.

On 21 November 2014, 35 youth graduated from this program as pioneers with certificates that not only represented accomplishment but also presented them with a pathway to a better life.
Among them was Bruce Dubu, a reformed youth who had been in conflict with the law. He is now a leader in his own right and sees a future off the streets and into the workforce, thanks to the City Mission TVET program.
“From nobody to somebody is what City Mission has made us become. City Mission has created potential and we now have hope for the future because of the skills we attained in mechanics, carpentry, social skills and leadership. We thank God for a place like City Mission,” said Bruce.

City Mission will now be able to offer hope and opportunities for more youth in Morobe with the opening of two new classrooms funded by the Australian Government and Newcrest Mine, also on 21 November.

The Australian Government funding of PGK120,000 for the classroom is part of a PGK1 million key partnership grant to City Mission PNG made available through SPSN since March 2013.

Joanne Ronalds, First Secretary Governance Australian High Commission, who officiated at the opening, said that by attending this event, the Australian High Commission is reaffirming the partnership with City Mission PNG.

“We believe that by helping vulnerable people, we can grow together and prosper. It needs all parties in civil society, government, private sector and the donor community to work together to bring about positive change,” said Ms Ronalds.

She paid tribute to the youths who worked hard to provide the labour to build the classroom.

“We recognise that you contributed towards building this vocational classroom and congratulate you on this achievement. It is a gift to future students and youths who will come to City Mission in the future,” she said.

City Mission PNG Chief Executive Officer Pastor Ron Brown says “the new vocational classroom will greatly enhance the quality of the vocational training program, facilitating the classes in workplace safety, proper tool operation and upkeep, theory lessons in trade and construction skills, and a classroom for hands-on practice in a supervised environment. We hope the skills learned by the young men will propel them into the future with full-time employment.”

In addition to life skills training for young men help them avoid crime and life on the streets, City Mission PNG also offers a refuge for women and children who have suffered domestic abuse, and an orphanage for children whose parents died from AIDS.

Children and women who would otherwise end up on the streets because of neglect or abuse are protected from further harm and helped to recover.

The funding is having an impact on the scope of work and ministry of City Mission PNG.

Pastor Ron Brown has described it as laying the foundation that will drive the Mission’s work into the next 20 years.

And it is indeed setting the pace for great things to come: to date, these funds have allowed for increased capacity and a richer training experience for those involved in all aspects of the City Mission Program.
This funding is helping provide for more young men, orphans and survivors of domestic abuse through the programs and services that City Mission PNG offers in Port Moresby and Lae.
The grant has also enabled City Mission to hire more specialist staff and build staff accommodation, classrooms and facilities at training centres that were operating beyond their capacity.
The funding will also improve governance arrangements, including finance management and monitoring and evaluation of programs.
The Australian Government is committed to turning around the lives of vulnerable people to make communities safer and stronger through SPSN.
SPSN is a democratic governance program implemented as a partnership between the Governments of PNG and Australia.

  Joanne Ronalds, First Serectary at the Australian High Commission congratulates Bruce D’Hart from PNG
        City Mission Lae Chapter on the successful completion of the new classroom and graduation of pioneer class
of the TVET program.