Effort made to give youths a chance

CREATING a network of partnerships to employ youths was the theme at the opening of a corporate training course at the Asia Pacific Institute of Social, Economic and Technical Studies in Port Moresby on
Friday.
“We want to create a partnership with the government and business organisations, including churches, to provide an opportunity for our disengaged youths,” executive director Thomas Phillar said.
“If we are not careful as leaders and public servants, we will become the victims of our own doing.”
Phillar said many school leavers have little chance to go back in.
Land has been made available as a youth and employment hub.
“We have to support the youths to survive because at the end of the day, we get the consequences,” Phillar said.
“We need to work together to identify areas that make big money so we look for better ways to get everybody employed and get them out of this trouble.”
Youth groups, business and government organisations shared their thoughts.
National Youth Authority deputy director Dora Asera said: “Our vision states that we have to work hard to transform and empower youths for nation building.
“The authority, however, cannot work alone to fulfil that vision and that is where APIASETS comes in as well as other organisations.”
She encouraged government organisations to up-skill their employees as it is their trainingsat the institute that will make a change in the workforce.
“As agencies, we need to partner in education for both engaged and disengaged persons out there in the field,” Asera said.
The institute has four schools – health sciences, education, business and technical studies.