By COLIN TAIMBARI
For those of us who give little thought to the art of baking bread, this would seem rather strange, but the 30 or so adult students getting a first hands-on experience of baking bread, it was something special.
The sparkle in their eyes and that big typically Melanesian smile just told you they were having the best time of their lives.
Some in the group did not even have the luxury of a Grade 6 education or could afford to write proper English but the group which ranged in age from about 18 to 40 years had gelled in well and were not about to give this opportunity away for anything.
They included village housewives or daughters doubling as cooks for their little guesthouse on Kairiru Island; or local tour guides on the mighty Sepik River towards Ambunti; cleaning and laundry girls at a local backpacker motel in town; or some receptionist and manager at a hotel on Wewak Hill.
They were all part of the tourism industry training for East Sepik recently conducted at the Wewak Centre of Hope and bread making was one of the practical lessons. Other practical lessons included learning the proper way of setting up tables for meals and serving clients their meals.
Basics such as knowing where to place the fork or spoon and knowing which side to take when placing the client's plate of food or when removing the plate when they had finished eating. Things, we hungry bellies give little thought to when we sit for meals at a hotel and guest house.
The workshop is start of a nationwide industry training hosted by the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority and jointly facilitated with the Department of Education's Technical & Vocational Education Training (TVET) division. TPA's senior officer in-charge of training Nellie Holland and TVET's Flora Gutierrez were the main facilitators. Ms Gutierrez, originally from Philippines, has spent nearly 27 years teaching tourism & hospitality in PNG but was really impressed by the dedication and commitment shown by her new group of students to learn.
"You are best students I've had so far because you are always coming early everyday and you are eager to learn new things," she told them. Ms Holland shared similar sentiments saying everyone at the workshop just wanted to know more and "the part they enjoyed most was baking their very own bread and eating it."
The objective of the industry training workshop which will also travel to Kavieng, Madang, Kimbe, Lae, Alotau, Mount Hagen, Goroka and Rabaul is basically about equipping our people with the necessary skills in tourism and hospitality so they know how to care for a tourist when they visit their area.
The training covered areas of hospitality health including hygiene, safety and security procedures, developing & updating their tourism & hospitality industry knowledge, preparing producing yeast goods, providing lost and found properties, and better knowing your food & beverage service.
East Sepik Provincial administration's advisor for culture, sports & tourism Anton Sakarai said basic skills and knowledge on the industry is seriously lacking in the province.
"Only through such basic training by TPA and TVET, our people can be better informed and are become knowledgeable of the industry," he said. Mr Sakarai expressed gratitude to the TPA and TVET for the initiative saying more such training was continuously needed in the future because while East Sepik may have the tourist attractions, people must know how to do things proper when hosting tourists or other visitors. ESP Tourism Industry Association chairman Robert Ulgu - a participant at the workshop - could not agree more. "TPA is doing it's part from the national level so it's time that the provincial government start giving serious emphasis at the provincial level because tourism is the only area where our little people can engage in some meaningful economic activity to sustain their livelihoods," he said.
By the end of the week, new friendships were made and contacts established among the locals to share their ideas and experiences in their respective fields of engagement in the tourism sector with the hope of progressing in future. Surf Site Lodge or Gala Lodge nestled on the white sandy beach at Boram was the venue for the closing luncheon. Speaking at there, East Sepik provincial administrator John Alman echoed the importance of tourism as a vehicle for change in East Sepik and PNG. "There is no place in this world as beautiful as Sepik in this world and that you must know in your heart and believe," he said. Mr Alman said tourists will come to see what Sepik can offer but we must be skilled and prepared when they come and he thanked TPA and TVET for taking the initiative to impart new skills and knowledge to the industry. "I am also glad to see members of the tourism and hospitality industry in East Sepik at this luncheon as it shows the desire for greater private/public sector interaction towards delivery of improved services and partnership in developing our tourism industry," he added.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Tony Bais Jnr who operates and manages Huanjo Guest House said whatever skills and knowledge learnt at the workshop is immeasurable especially for little operators like him and will be treasured. Bais Jnr said the participants had a great time as well during the course of the workshop because Ms Holland and Ms Gutierrez were just two great teachers with even greater personalities. "We want to please, ask Ms Nellie and Ms Flora to come back again and teach us more in future," he added.
There were smiles but this time it was with sadness as the participants shook hands and bade farewell to their facilitators whom they showered with gifts from the Sepik. The ladies especially had become fond of Ms Holland and Ms Gutierrez so the bear hugs kept coming until it was time to move on.


 

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