Grai wants to help jobless young people

People

By ZACHERY PER
C HIMBU businessman Grai Onguglo is doing what he believes is a responsibility of the Government – creating job opportunities for young people.
“I decided to assist youths since the Government has no jobs for them after their training.”
Grai, 46, comes from the Kamaneku tribe in the Kundiawa-Gembogl district. He is married to Cathy.
He managed to reach Grade Two at the Gon Primary School, before working as a security guard at a supermarket in Kundiawa.
He also worked for the Works Department on Asian Development Bank projects.
Grai started off in a small way. He sold small goods and pigs he reared to set up his business. And after few years of hard work, Grai and Cathy formed Etnambo Builders, making household and office upholstery items.
His wife Cathy helps him in managing the company.
In the upholstery section, they sew vinyl covers for mattresses, pillows, chairs, cushions and couches.
Etnambo Builders is also involved in building construction and joinery. It permanently employs 14 people.
The joinery section makes coffins and furniture such as bed frames, tables, lounge sets, chairs, kitchen cabinets, computer desks, filing cabinets and benches.
Since 2016, they have provided 500 vinyl mattresses including pillows for the Sir Joseph Nombri Kundiawa General Hospital.
They also operate a 40-room guesthouse at their Yuai village outside Kundiawa town.
They help unemployed young people from all around Chimbu province, many of whom are technical vocational education training (TVET) school graduates without jobs.
“The Government especially the education department should follow what I am doing to help youths who are the future leaders of this country.”
While the Government has established many TVET schools around the country, Grai points out that it has not created jobs for those who have successfully completed their courses.
He estimates that more than 1,000 young people he trained had gone on to secure jobs with companies, including resource development firms.
“Currently, I have 20 village boys being trained in upholstery, construction and joinery. They learn the trade skills through on-the-job training until they become competent.”
He also engages 36 young people to build a 60-meter concrete footpath to his new lodge, install five street solar lights and four power poles. He plans to put up nine more poles to provide electricity to nearby homes.
Since 2008, more than 200 carpentry students from TVET schools in Chimbu such as Maina, Chuave, Kundiawa and Elimbari, plus Tari in Hela, had gone through Etnambo Builders under Grai’s supervision.
“I make it my business to attend their graduations and give each student K600 or K1000 to buy key tools such as saws, hammers, tapes and squares to begin their careers.”
He is setting the trend he hopes the Government will notice and follow – to help the thousands of unemployed young people around the nation.

2 comments

  • A simple man with a very generous heart for the underprivileged. I am very thrilled to learn the marvelous acts you have and are doing for the citizens of this country. Responsible authorities in the province and the country should come in and give this man some boost in terms of financial assistance to take this worthy cause to a higher level.

    I salute you for your efforts and hope to at least contribute somethings in a small way to assist you in this cause sometime when I am ok in the near future

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