Love for plants drives Jivix

JIVIX Yariki is a busy man any day of the week at Port Moresby Nature Park and is someone you will be happy to meet.
The green enthusiastic, born to parents Andrew and Amo Yariki, hails from Kainantu in Eastern Highlands.
Yariki, 27, is an only child, humble but with a personal drive to achieve his goals in the horticulture field.
Port Moresby Nature Park recruited Yariki as a nursery worker last Jan 15.
His love for learning and his enthusiasm for his work has seen him take on additional roles within the grounds team and culminated to a much deserved staff award for excellence this month thanks to his consistent efforts.
“Receiving the staff excellence award is a big deal for me as I feel valued for the job I do knowing that I always keep myself busy with a lot of work in and around the park,” Yariki said.
He jokingly added that he found himself doing so much perhaps because he was always looking out for jobs (mi man blo ‘painim wok’ ya) to do once he is done with a task.
Yariki’s tireless attitude towards work is remarkable. You will see him air-blowing leaves, tending to plants in the nursery, mixing fertiliser for the orchid nursery, delivering indoor plants to clients or stocking up new pot plants for sale outside the Park’s gift shop.
But the young man enjoys working with plants, this makes him the happiest while at work.
Apart from his grounds work, every month, as early as 7am, you would find Yariki in the main picnic area, starting up the barbecue for the park’s staff breakfast of over 60.
He is proud that through the support of his immediate supervisor – team leader Junior Muli and the rest of his team – he has enhanced his skills and knowledge where he now knows the names of many plants, their classification and how to use them in landscaping.
It was through such determination and passion that Yariki possessed that many youths find themselves thriving here at the park.
Being an employee of the park allowed an ordinary individual to be part of a great mission in leading education and conservation efforts towards the protection and preservation of some of Papua New Guinea’s unique flora and fauna.
Port Moresby Nature Park is a charity organisation that relies on grants and donor funding to operate.
By visiting the park and joining the membership would help support efforts in preserving PNG’s unique natural environment for future generations, including the 350 resident animals, majority of which have been surrendered to the park for care.