Wandaki hopes to inspire youths

By OLIVE SUKUN
ELIZABETH Wandaki has turned down great opportunities to help the young people of Papua New Guinea.
This vibrant 32-year-old graduated with a certificate in youth work at the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) in Port Moresby last Wednesday.
“I just want to be here helping the youths,” Wandaki said.
“I cannot leave my home and go out to other places when my people need me.”
She knew about APTC in PNG but was unable to apply because she thought many people here would apply.
Wandaki was leaving for Samoa as a missionary when she applied to the college.
She returned to PNG after her mission work only to get accepted at the APTC campus back in Samoa.
She studied there and recently returned for the graduation in Port Moresby.
Wandaki is from Western Highlands. Her father died when she was 16.
She was left with her mother and two brothers who are now missionaries as well.
They live at Yupa village in Mt Hagen.
Wandaki didn’t get the chance to continue into grades 11 and 12 because of school fee problems.
Her elder brother, Johnny, is the biggest influence on her life as he taught her to always put God first.
Wandaki said it was through reading the Bible that she succeeded in her education.
Graduating with a certificate in youth work, Wandaki praises God for her achievement.
Wandaki had been given offers to travel to other countries for mission work but decided to stay home.
“I want to help young boys and girls,” she said.
“The way young girls these days carry themselves around is like they don’t value themselves anymore.”
She dreams of changing the mindset of PNG’s young people who have nothing to do.