Oa loves being a youth volunteer

YOUTH

By DYLAN MURRAY
KULUNIAS Oa never thought that he would grow so fond of helping young people as a youth volunteer.
What started out as just a job to fill his time while he was taking a year off from studies, quickly turned into a passion for helping young people.
He was born in 1999 to Francis Oa Mairi, from Kairuku in Central, and the late Eunice Takap, from East New Britain, and was the last of four siblings.
“I grew up in the suburb of Tokarara, Port Moresby, so I’m basically from here,” he joked.
Oa was a shy boy, never outspoken but always willing to help.
He started his education at St Johns Primary School at Tokarara, where he did a year of preschool.
“I was (then) sent to June Valley Elementary School where I did my prep and then primary from grades three to eight,” he said.
He graduated from primary school in 2015 and was selected to continue his education at Jubilee Catholic Secondary School the following year.
In 2016, the shy Oa was appointed to be one of the captains of his class, a role he tried his very best to live up to.
He sadly lost one of his older siblings in that same year, a loss which pushed him to always strive to be a good son.
Over the years he would develop a desire to help his church, his school and his teachers in various capacities.
He was even given a prefect role in year 12.
“I spent four years there,” he said.
“I was selected to study a Bachelor in Science Education at the University of Goroka in 2020.”
Oa went away for university in 2020.
His mother, Eunice saw him off when he left, and little did he know that would be the last time he ever saw her.
She passed away in the middle of that same year.
“I was not able to continue to do my second year due to personal reasons,” he said.
He opted to look for employment in 2021.
“At the same time, my former school (Jubilee) was looking for a youth volunteer, so I decided to take the job there.”
“I told myself I would only do a year of volunteer work – four years later, I am still a volunteer.”
Oa discovered a passion for youth empowerment through his work with the students at Jubilee over the past four years.
“Some of the highlights would be the 2022 and 2023 Lasallian student leadership seminars at Lasalle Technical Secondary School, primary school visitations with the youths for Lasalle, and this year’s annual Lasallian student leadership seminar for the District of Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and PNG (ANZPPNG) we attended in Sydney,” he said.
He says helping to develop young leaders is one of the best things he has had the pleasure of doing.
“One of the core values of being a Lasallian is to be of service to God and the people around you,” he said.
“Working with young people and empowering them is my passion, and that is why I decided to be a volunteer.”
He is a member of the United Church and is a leader among the youths of his church as well.
He says working at a Catholic mission school opened his eyes to a lot, especially how welcoming the school and its faith-based programmes were to members of the other denominations.
Oa said the thing he loved the most about youth work changing lives.
“It’s really the journey you take with the students that are entrusted to your care that stands out the most.
“There are young people who project their bad behaviours because of the kind environment they come from, but it’s the approach you take to really understand them and accept them for who they are that matters.

“And by accepting them you bring them to the light, which is Christ. Seeing the achievements of one student gives that satisfaction that yes I have been part of his/her journey.”
He said even though there are challenges, like handling rowdy teenagers, his love for the work outweighs them.
Oa said he owes a lot to his father and late mother.
He said they helped to empower him, which has made him who he is today.
His mother would encourage him and often times challenge him.
“My father is my number one supporter with the work I do today, even though I get on his nerve so many times, and for that I am grateful for his life.”
He said he would love to complete his studies sometime in the future, but his passion for youth work right now is too strong to ignore.
“Completing my studies is at the top of my list, but joining other organisations to empower youths is another option for me.”