Youths undergo training

By MELYNE BAROI
THE Central Papua Conference (CPC) of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church conducted a mass leadership training at its Bautama SDA Convention Centre in efforts to bridge the gap between youths and leadership opportunities in the country.
The week-long programme saw more than 600 young leaders undertake specialised training in a variety of professional and life skills concepts facilitated by representatives from the private and public sector.
The Adventist Youth Ministry (AYM) director Matthew Walter told The National that the ministry believed in the potential of young people and by providing life enhancement programmes it could enable them to be better citizens.
“We have 600-plus interested youths and although not all of them are registered members, they all get free and equal exposure and education through this programme, there are no restrictions,” he said.
“We want to train them so when they go out they can be better leaders in their churches, societies and communities.”
Walter added that through the programme the ministry hoped to see more young people taking up senior roles in departments and organisations.
“We see a gap in leadership when it comes to young people being front-liners and that the senior ranks are mostly occupied by very senior people which is very challenging for young people.”
“We want to make sure that through the ministry we close this gap and enable young people to take up senior roles with ease both within the church and outside,” he said.
The training programmes included basic first aid, basic computing and accountancy as well as strategic management and family counselling.
“It provides an opportunity for young people who have not gone through formal tertiary education to get a glimpse of professional skills and social change values.”
The AYM through the CPC of SDA church successfully concluded the leadership training programme on Saturday. Each registered youth member was awarded a certificate of participation.