The Voice sounding ever louder

Weekender

BY NATHAN WOTI
UPNG Journalism student

THE greatest challenge in today’s modern world is how best a society can be able to protect, sustain, and secure the future of its next generation.
As the ever-changing world taps into this new age of social media, a vast flow of information and communications, science and technology, robotics and artificial intelligence, two big questions are; where is humanity at right now, and where is it heading to?
The key to these two important questions might just be in the hands of the younger generation. They are keepers of tomorrow. What they learn and absorb in the world that surrounds them today will have an impact on their lives and humanity as a whole, so to speak.
That said, there is always hope. Small people, individuals, and groups are starting to rise up and becoming responsible, and taking on-board the challenge to look at how best they can help in empowering the youths or the young people to face the trying times in this post-modern world, and help them to become leaders in their own small spheres of life.
One such groups that is stepping up to take on board the challenge and the responsibility to build young people in Papua New Guinea is the The Voice Inc (TVI).
The Voice is a youth development organisation passionate about working with young people and imparting in them the necessary skills to find that inner voice to rise up and be leaders and make a difference in their communities, the nation, and the world.
TVI, was established in 2007 by students at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) and incorporated in 2010. The TVI’s main mission is to support citizens to, especially young people, to find their voice, act and build a sustainable future.
Now with more 600 alumni who have gone through leadership programmes, plus over a thousand members from the three biggest universities in the country- Unitech (Lae), UPNG, and UoG, and a dozen more social media (Facebook and Instagram followers), the group is a growing organisation with its’ Clean Generation movement touching hearts and minds of the young people. It is recognised as a leading dynamic youth development organisation.
The Clean Generation movement recently held their second flagship leadership conference at the Apec Haus in Port Moresby where guest host and international Christian pop singer Beckah Shae and husband Jack Shocklee travelled 17 hours from Israel to attend.
The conference also had three of the most vibrant political leaders and public orators, Allan Bird, Garry Juffa, and Bryan Kramer speaking on issues affecting the people, the economy, politics, and solutions that young people can come up with or be part of to make a change to the norms and the ways that have held back this country for so long.
At the opening of the leadership conference, TVI director, Malawai Sasingian said: “The aim of the two-day conference is to strengthen the network of like-minded young people interested in impacting change through leadership in their respective campuses and communities. We hope to further equip them with ideas, tools, knowledge and networks they need to strengthen their leadership roles.
“At our first leadership conference last year, the theme for us was Catching Fire,” Sasingian said.
“We said 12 years ago, a candle was lit with a group of third year law students. And now 12 years later their dream to change their communities has spread like fire throughout the country in the movement of the Clean Generation, thousands of young people have taken a stand to live lives of purpose, of truth, of conviction and calling,” she said.
“Our reach has extended through our alumni and partners to villages and districts – this year we worked in Tanggu Village, Bogia District, Madang, throughout Nipa-Kutubu, Southern Highlands, Kikori in Gulf, Tari in Hela and of course the continuous work in our universities and high schools. And truly PNG has caught fire through the work we have done,” the director added.
“For year 2020, the theme will be the Lions roar; a representation of boldness and courage in the face of very trying times. In order to bring change, we are all needed, our collective voices and our roar.
“We believe that a nation cannot be built on brokenness -broken systems, broken homes and a broken spirit.
“In order to bring long-lasting change, unequal power structures that have entrenched poverty and increase inequality must be address head on,” Sasingian said.
Police Minister Bryan Kramer in his keynote address made a touching statement saying that that the future of PNG was not in the material developments that we see, but rather it is in the dreams and the aspirations of young people of this nation.
“The hope of this nation is not in the material development or anything else, it is inside the hearts of the younger generation,” Kramer said.
Kramer spoke on the challenge that the Government was facing in dealing with corruption and at the same time working on recovering the country from huge loans from the previous governments.
Governors Garry Juffa and Allan Bird also spoke on the day two of the conference about government and business, and where young people could be innovators to drive the economy whether in politics or business world. Both governors also spoke about their personal experiences in the political arena.
They basically explored the importance of district level development and change which has the potential to directly impact the lives of people in rural areas.
Gospel singer Beckah Shae and husband Jack Shocklee spoke on the importance of why young people should follow the voice of God and understand their purpose in life before finding theirs. They took sessions on music production.
The two-day conference was attended by youths from all walks of life, especially primary and secondary school students, and university students. Other young people in the workforce also turned up for the event.
TVI director, Sasingian told The National that an invitation was made throughout Port Moresby and the response was overwhelming.
“The event was a sold out one,” she said.
“A team of university students have offered their school holiday to volunteer to pull the conference together. They visited schools throughout the city promoting the conference and the Clean Generation movement”.
School captains and student leaders from six secondary schools in the city – Jubilee, Port Moresby International School, Butuka Academy, Gordon, and Badihagawa were sponsored by their school administrations to attend the leadership conference. Port Moresby National High and St Charles Lwanga, and Kila Kila Secondary Schools representatives were sponsored by the TVI alumni.
Youths from religious groups like Tabernacle of Prayer, Inter Youth Wave Rally and church ministries; Multicultural AOG Hohola, CRC Bethel Centre, Debenis Living Water, Salvation Army, Gabagaba Congregational Church, Rev Sione Kami Memorial Church, PNGDF PD Church, and Boroko Baptist Church all released their youths to attend the conference.
Sasingian expressed her gratitude and acknowledgements to the coalition partners like Tribal Foundation, Eco Services, Cancer Foundation, Transparency International PNG, UN Women, Sanap Wantaim Campaign, and Piku Biodiversity Network who came out to show support by putting up information booths and sponsored their members to attend the conference.
Sasingian said that the success of the conference would not have been possible without everyone who participated.
“Finally, TVI would like to thank our amazing guests, Beckah Shae and Jack Shocklee, Police Minister Bryan Kramer, and Governors Garry Juffa and Allan Bird.”
TVI continues to defy odds in fighting for a better future and helping young people capture the dream. They have played their part, so must all of us.
We must play our part to protect and sustain the future of the next generation to come.