Stop criminal ways, call to street youths

 A YOUTH in the National Capital District is urging his peers to leave behind illegal activities and join organisations that will help transform their lives. 

Andy Auti, from Sohe, in Northern, who is a trainee at the City Mission’s New Life Skills Training centre, outside Port Moresby, said engaging in criminal activities in settlements would do nothing but cost young people’s lives. 

Auti said he had been involved in illegal activities for four years and in that time achieved nothing.

“I started taking drugs and got involved in criminal activities when I was dropped out of the formal education system,” he said.

“Community members hated and rejected me for my bad behaviour and I lost peace in my family … but  I thank God for making way for me to come to this institution from Northern and save my life.

“I see that my life has changed a lot when I came here. Now I can be able to obey, respect, pray, and read my Bible.

“I feel that my life is in order. Through God I will live a successful life out there after my training here.

“I challenge my peers on the streets to leave behind criminal activities and get into centres like this for basic training skills.

“It is only from such trainings that we escape poverty.” 

He said New Life Skills Training was necessary for youths on the streets to learn basic skills to sustain themselves. 

Auti called on the government to recognise organisations that focused on  helping disadvantaged youths as they helped to reduce law and other problems in the country.