Youths vital in nation building

YOUTHS are an important agent of change.
They are the evolver of social, economic, political and cultural transformation.
Youths play a vital role in the constructive process of building social cohesion, economic prosperity and political stability in an inclusive and democratic way.
The involvement of youths in the nation building process is a must as they constitute the core of our active population.
The National Youth Development Authority Corporate Plan 2020-25 describes youth as people aged 12-30.
From sporting heroes and heroines, artists and scholars we are so proud of to the criminal perpetrators who often end up at the other side of the law, they are mostly in this age group.
Empowering the youth and unlocking their potential must be right at the top on the country’s development agenda.
It is very encouraging now to see the new-look National Youth Development Authority (NYDA) taking a structured and holistic approach in revamping the organisation and aligning its policies with the Government’s strategies and “Take back PNG” programme.
Under the leadership of director-general Joe Itaki and with the oversight by the Minister Wake Goi, the association has achieved key milestones.
This includes the establishment and strengthening of youth councils in 11 districts and 38 local level governments, wider focus on rural youth groups and memorandum of understanding signed with stakeholders.
One example of the work being done is Imbonggu in Southern Highlands which has youth councils established in its 3 LLGs – Ialibu Basin, Imbonggu Proper and Lower Mendi.
Youth used to be under the Department of Women and Community Development until it was made into a statutory body, taking on the NYDA.
It is still a key stakeholder of the department and its community empowerment agenda.
Recently, with the department, under the leadership of secretary Anna Bias, the NYDA have been embarking on inclusive outreach to the communities throughout the country.
The hope is to establish Community Development Centres (CDCs) in each district across the country.
The CDCs will house the core functions of the Department of Women and Community Development and the extended services of the NYDA.
The first recipient of the CDC is Imbonggu.
In partnership with the Imbonggu MP Pila Niningi, who is also Minister for Inter-governmental Relations, the department and NYDA built the first CDC at Walum district headquarters at the cost of K4.2mil.
The centre will house the district youth councils and will also be the hub of social welfare cases needing referral and a channel for networking for social protection and programme delivery among existing community based organisations at the national and sub-national levels.
The NYDA also offers life skills and basic job-oriented training together with the guidance about Christianity and good moral and ethical principles.
The development of the country requires active participation from the youth.
It does not matter which field we want to progress in life, they must be empowered with the right skills, knowledge, values and opportunity.

David Lepi