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Bro Pai teaching a session at the National Youth Leaders Training held in Goroka

National Youth Leaders Training Workshop

December, 2011

Uploaded: 21 December 2011

Story by Richard Carver (Jnr)

The last quarter of 2011 was a ground-breaking time for the National Youth Department of PNG.

A few months earlier at the General Conference in Mendi, the General Board appointed a new National Youth President, Rev. Mike Warea, replacing our previous President Rev. Barnabas Gunua, who had devoted himself full-time to do the work of Chimbu Presbyter.

Immediately upon the appointment of Bro Mike, him and I sat together and discussed the work of the Youth Dept. I am officially the Youth Dept Advisor, having had many years experience in the Youth Dept in Fiji. Having discussed many things, the first priorities we established were: 1) setting up the Department structure, and 2) Organising training for our Youth Leaders.

The first task was accomplished during Oct-Nov. Each region of PNG talked with Mike and appointed Regional Directors and Committees. This was the first time for some of the Regions to have Committees, and they were appreciative of the extra man-power and brain-power that this brings, instead of having it all divested in a single person. The other suprise was the appointment of some young ladies on the committees to represent the needs of the female youth, which shall we say is not exactly cultural for PNG.

The Youth Directors and Committee Members holding up their "Level One" Certificates from the National Youth Leaders Training

The second need was for training. Many of the Directors had come to see me, saying "We have been appointed to a position and have been given the title of 'Director', but we have absolutely no idea of what to do with it". They were requesting help and ideas of how to reach the youth, and for this, training was needed.

PNG is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Not only does it have many tribes, but it has cities to villages and everything in between. City Youth are trying to be modern and western, influenced by media and celebrities, and all holding mobile phones and laptops, with the village youth at the other end of the spectrum not even aware of the world outside PNG. So any approach to youth in PNG cannot be a simple "one-size-fits-all", but must focus specifically on the needs of each area. This makes crafting a National Youth Programme a real challenge.

So in December 2011, we called all the leaders in from all regions of PNG. We had 70 leaders present, from all over; Port Moresby in the south, right up to Rabaul, Kavieng and Manus Island in the north. Many paid out hundreds of dollars of their own money to get there, and they were keen to get a blessing.

For a full week we squeezed in as many sessions as possible. Myself and Bro Pai taught them over 25 subjects, ranging from leadership-centric topics down to the nitty-gritty of reaching PNG youth. The Youth Leaders were engrosed in the topics, and absolutely loved the whole week. The feedback we received was amazing, with glowing reports from all involved.

At the end of the week, they received a Level One Certificate of Youth Leaders Training, and we had a huge feast as a break-up party.

From what I have been told, this is the first time in PNG history that such training has been held specifically for Youth leadership, and it is exciting to see that the Youth Dept in PNG is finally on the move and serious about reaching out to PNG Youth. I am very proud to part of this groundbreaking event and what can I say except this is exciting times to be a member of the PNG Youth Department!

- Richard Carver Jnr

National Youth President, Mike Warea (foreground) cutting the cake with Bro Pai	Tim helping the Youth get ready for the breakup feast
The Youth Leaders who came from all around Papua New Guinea for the training

- 19 Jan 2012

• Carver Snr's 2011 4th Qtr Newsletter [more]
• Carver Snr's 2011 3rd Qtr Newsletter [more]
• Richard & Andrea's Dec Newsletter [more]
• Andrea's Family News [more]
• Youth Department comes alive! [more]
• Home Missionary goes to Daru [more]
• Bible School Teacher Training [more]
• Mt. Wilhelm Climb and Crusade [more]
• PNG gets new Missionaries! [more]
• Creation of a Print Room! [more]

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