Youth project graduates over 200 trainees

Caption: Graduates receiving their certificates from Deputy City Manager Honk Kiap

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, February 9, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

A TOTAL 215 PET (Pre-Employment Training) trainees graduated last week at Paddy’s Bar at Boroko in Port Moresby, under the Urban Youth Employment Project.

The batch was the first to graduate, after a month’s training in technical and business skills training, under the PET concept- with previous batches only in communication and business life skills.

Project Manager Tom Gilis encouraged the graduates to commit themselves to the second chance that they were given.

“The project only gives you a second chance, and the rest is up to you to convince, prove, and commit yourself,” he said.

“Every one of you that are graduating has made a change for yourselves.”

The project aims to assist young people who miss out in furthering their formal education due to the current education system.

With over 1000 youth already trained under the program, after been left out by the formal education system, thanks to NCDC, the World Bank and various partners including the State.

Gilis thanked the 130 business houses in the city for their generosity in giving each of the graduates the opportunity to undergo five months on the job training.

Guest speaker and Deputy City Manager for NCD, Honk Kiap, reflected on how far the project had evolved from a point of being considered bleak- to the point where it had succeeded expectations.

“When the program started, it looked bleak and some said it would not work,” he said.

“The project itself has proved them wrong, and I am happy with the project management team.”

“To hear that 130 business houses have come on board to take part in the project is very encouraging.”

“You can now tell others that I have the potential to be someone and have a purpose in society to prosper.”

Mr Kiap inspired the graduates with his story of how far he had to strive in order to be where he was.

“When I first came to the city, I was one of the first boss crews to run the bus 19 route and later on the bus 17 route when I left high school just like you.”

“I saw an opportunity in NCD to be a clerk and I took and and have never look back since.”

“If you are given an opportunity like this- you must take it with both hands- grab it with all your might and you will make a difference for all of us as well,” he said.