WITNESS

In downtown Port Moresby since last week, a group of young men and women in light green reflective gears have been hard at work improving the pavements, walkways and bus stops. They are members of the Second Urban Youth Employment Project for Papua New Guinea, a joint initiative between the World Bank and National Capital District Commission. Project proponents say the initiative is to improve the capacity of participating young men and women engaged in productive income-generating activities. Comprising four components, it involves raising awareness, mobilising eligible youths and providing them with basic life skills and job readiness training, and then placing them in public works schemes. Then, there is the skills training component, referral services and monitoring and evaluation component and the project management and financing component among others. It is understood that Lae is rolling out a similar project.

– Nationalpic