Settlement youths in Moresby acquire vocational skills

THIRTY-TWO youths from the settlement areas in Port Moresby have graduated as bricklayers, metal fabricators and welders after attending a three-week course at the Maino Eduru Vocational Centre.
Sponsored by the World Vision’s healthy communities project, the bricklaying and basic metal fabrication and welding short courses were offered to youths from the World Vision’s target sites of 8-Mile, Ranuguri and Segani settlements.
Many of the youths were happy to receive their certificates, references and transcripts of their grades and were looking forward to pursuing careers in bricklaying and welding.
Most of them were school leavers who had completed Grades 9 and 10 but could not find jobs.
World Vision’s business development officer Simon Karapus said the youths were pleased as this provided an opportunity for them to progress in life if they chose to.
“They felt this was their second chance in life and I’m happy to say that some of them are already talking to companies about employment opportunities,” Karapus said.
He said there was still a lot of youth-related problems in communities, especially in the settlements, and more needed to be done to address them.
He said in order for change to occur, there should be something to drive that change.
“We want to facilitate that change so youths can move a step further in their progress to get into the employment industry. Arming them by developing their skills will drive them to strive for change and a better life in future,” Karapus said.
Basic metal fabrication and welding trade instructor Francis Erico urged the graduates to either go out and seek employment, become self-employed or to use their trade skills to help their communities