Authority plans to carry out fashion trainings

THE National Youth Development Authority will start carrying out fashion training workshops in the provinces after seeing its potential to empower youths.
Deputy director-general Roby Gabe Duri said he had seen what the workshop could do when it was held in Port Moresby.
Duri signed a memorandum of understanding with the PNG Fashion and Design Week, who were running the workshop with funding support from the Australian government.
“The workshop is hands-on and very practical, I was impressed with how it is run,” Duri said.
“The organisers of PNG Fashion and Design Week did not only teach Papua New Guineans on how to design, cut patterns and sew them into a dress, shirt, trousers, etc.
“They also teach them basic business skills on how to market their products.
“It is like an all-in-one course and I’ve seen how youths are being empowered and it is changing their mind set. We are hoping to have this course or workshop taught in other provinces.
“The workshop is also inclusive,” Duri said.
He said that the authority had given the PNG Fashion and Design Week a few sewing machines and would also be assisting with up-skill.
“We will help them (in their areas of) need. Currently the programme is funded by the Australian government so we will be looking at capacity-building for the trainers and assist.”
Duri, who is in Milne Bay for work has visited the fashion training workshop in the province and is encouraged by the youths’ commitments and interest to make use of this opportunity and to test their limits in the industry.
“The fashion industry is steadily growing in our country and you have the opportunity to have a hands-on workshop to learn,” he said.