Yaca, TIPNG host youth forum at UPNG

Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) and Youth against Corruption Association (Yaca) held this year’s first youth forum at the main lecture theatre of the University of PNG.
The recent forum was held under the theme of PNG Bilong Yumi (PNG is Ours) and saw 106 students from secondary schools in National Capital District and Central attend.
They took part in a panel discussion and a question-and-answer session with the guest speakers.
The two guest speakers were Tess Gizoria, a recipient of the Queen’s young leader award in 2017 and a youth representative in the Central provincial assembly, and Jerry Albaniel, a young videographer and owner of JA Video Productions.
Both speakers encouraged those present to recognise how rich PNG was and realise their roles in safeguarding the country’s resources and participate in nation building and good governance.
TIPNG Youth Integrity Programme (Yip) coordinator Dagia Aka urged young people to take ownership of their future and advocate for better governance and transparency in their everyday lives.
“Young people are most likely to stand up against issues like corruption, exploitation of natural resources and climate change when they realise how much of their future is at stake,” Aka said.
Two more forums are planned for May and November this year, as Yaca aims to involve more young people in discussions about national issues that affect them.
Yaca was established in 2002 by Fr John Glynn, the chaplain of Jubilee Secondary School in Port Moresby, and is a registered organisation affiliated to TIPNG