Magalu finds purpose at farm

By LORRAINE JIMAL
LIFE is too short for Magalu Danagi to continue being involved in petty crimes and armed robberies which he knows will not benefit him when he gets old.
Grade eight dropout Magalu, now 45, whose parents are from Rigo and Milne Bay, is today the City Mission programme manager.
After dropping out of Kilakila High School in 1998, he roamed the streets of Port Moresby taking part in criminal activities as a way to escape from family pressure and stress.
Magalu is from a family of nine.
Life became tough for him after his father left them. His elder sister then passed away.
He could not deal with family issues and tried to escape his responsibilities by being involved with his peers to get his mind off family matters.
After sometime, he realised that there was nothing to gain from criminal activities.
He had no savings, no rest, no peace and purpose in his life and he was constantly living in fear.
Then he heard about the City Mission life skills programme and enrolled.
He didn’t pay any fees.
He just presented himself at the farm every morning to work.
His attitude completely changed and he developed a good work ethics. He was humble and committed to every work assigned to him by his supervisor who later recommended him for a programme manager position.
“I started at the farm by doing gardening, then to the kitchen and developed other skills as well.
“Because of my commitment to work, I was given the position of programme manager.”
He travelled to Fiji, United States and Singapore for community service training.
He later acquired a diploma in community service.
He plans to get a degree in the same stream later.
His advice to young people especially those involved in the criminal activities is to look for something worthwhile and beneficial to do. “We will not be young forever.
“When we are old, we will not have any money to look after ourselves.
“Engage yourself in life-skills training programmes and plan your future and work towards it, find employment and save money.
“There are so many life-skills training out there for young people who could get into those services. Help yourself.
You cannot be a criminal for the rest of our life.
Magalu is married with four children.