Skills training helps family

 By ABIGAIL PHOEBE

A SUBSISTENCE farmer, his wife and three daughters have graduated from a life-skills programme in the Gazelle district of East New Britain – and are setting up a small business.

Eremas Matamatam, 49, of Talakua ward completed six weeks of training in carpentry run by the Central Gazelle local level government in partnership with Malaguna Technical Secondary School through a Community Life-Skill Training programme.

His wife Dulcie Eremas and daughters Dulcie and Bonnie took up tailoring while daughter Dinah studied tourism and hospitality.

Matamatam told The National that while undergoing training, he implemented the practical part of the course at his village by building a small trade store.

The store took six weeks to complete.

“I was attending my carpentry training during the day at Navunaram village, and building my small trade store at night with the knowledge I received during class,” he said.

Matamatam completed the trade store the day before he graduated.

His wife and daughters provided catering for the facilitators during the programme.

Eremas said the catering revenue, once paid to his family, would be used to buy store goods.

Student Timot Hennan from Navunaram ward graduated in tailoring, saying there is a huge demand for ladies’ and children’s clothes.

Hennan said he was able to generate an income through sewing and selling clothes.

The training programmes aim to improve living standards in the informal sector. 

It was funded through the Provincial Support Improvement Programme.