Fuel firm puts bounce into Juni community

Students from Juni Primary School in Hela and youth from the nearby Hides communities are now able to display their basketball skills and techniques on a refurbished basketball court.
Operator of the PNG LNG Project, ExxonMobil PNG Limited, handed over the upgraded facility to the school last month.
In partnership with the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG), the oil and gas firm initiated a youth empowerment programme which incorporated life-skills training using basketball as the medium.
A coaching clinic was piloted at the school last November.
The clinic covered basketball drills, techniques, life skills training and Olympic values education.
It was during the coaching clinic that the partners identified the need to improve the basketball court. “Sports not only keeps us fit and healthy but teaches us about team work, commitment and dedication to achieve goals,” the firm’s representative Sagayaraj Martin said.
“Anyone can become a good player with the proper skills and knowledge of the sport but having the right attitude and discipline is equally important in your development as a sports person and future leaders of PNG.”