75492 Volume 1, Issue 4 January, 2013 Newsletter UYEP BLS program graduates 634 youth trainees In This Issue: BLST turns out 634.. Pg..1 The Urban Youth Employ- ment Project in November Govt targets youths.. Pg..1 and December 2012, More time please.. Pg..2 trained 634 youths under its basic life skills training Madang ready Pg..3 program. Youth view point Pg..3 The BLS training started on November 26 and ended US millions invest Pg..4 on December 21 last year where 634 youths under- went training. UYEP benefits to The training was conducted City youths by UYEP training contrac- tor, ABU Consult, an inter- national firm based in Ger- The project is for un- many. Local NCD-based employed youths aged trainers were recruited to  BLST in progress at the Don Bosco Technological Insti- 16 to 30 years. conduct one week class- tute, Boroko for youth trainees, most had gone through the Youths enrolled into room-based training based 40-days of YJC. The trainees will then go into 20-days PET. UYEP programs will be on intensive modules. paid training stipends. The BLS training was con- ute (Boroko), City Mission Modules in the BLST in- Youths will be provided ducted in five different (Koki), CWA (Boroko), clude work ethics, personal venues in the city—Don United Church-Hanuabada hygiene, business, behavior, five (5) days of Basic Life Bosco Technological Instit- and Girl Guides (Kone). work place, respect. Skills Training followed by work experience. Government target 13,500 benefactors in UYEP Trainees will be given Youth Identification The Government is target-  They will obtain a Photo Summary of Progress Cards. ing 13,500 youths to bene- Identification Card (also The project’s start-up has Youth Bank accounts fit through the UYEP. known as “Youth ID�); will be set up with Bank been slow but now making Under the project youths steady progress towards South Pacific and en-  Receive assistance to set will be provided training meeting its objectives. and placed on jobs with up a Savings Account and rolled in a SMS Banking access to Banking System; A contingency plan is in Scheme and youths pro- NCD-based employers.  Obtain Certificates of place to compensate for vided mobile phones and The Project’s benefits to earlier days. youths include: “Completion�, sim cards. “Attainment� and Activities which have con-  Youths will acquire basic “Experience� upon com- cluded include training of No bank fees paid for 6 knowledge and life-skills pletion of BLST, Basic 634 youth trainees under months from account for entry into workforce; Numeracy and Literacy the Basic Life Skills Train- opening.  Gain work experience; Test and Work Experi- ing end of last year. Trainees will be placed  They will learn basic ence, which will aid youth Ongoing activities include in either YJC (public work methods and health in finding work; and youths acquiring a bank and safety protocols; works) or OJT (on-the-  An enhanced capacity to account; immediately en-  Youths will receive contribute to, and increase gage in employment job) with NCD-based counselling services; household incomes. through the YJC. employers. Page 2 UYEP Newsletter Profile: UYEP youth of the month Trainees want more time for BLST—survey In November and December last year, just over 635 youth trainees passed through the Basic Life Skills Training (BLST) program. Some of the trainees were asked about their thoughts on the training and generally their per- ceived views about the project. The thoughts and expressions in this column are honest opinions of the trainees and do not necessarily reflect the view- points of the management. Last year in November and thoughts to themselves. How- December just over 635 youth ever, an expression mostly trainees passed through the shared by the youths was: “We Basic Life Skills Training have enjoyed working in the Eugene, 24… “BLST was most helpful.� (BLST) program. The training YJC program but we would Fred, 28… “The was conducted from Novem- have appreciated if more time BLST was short.� ber 26 and ended December was allocated for the BLS 21, just before the holidays. training.� There have been mixed reac- The youths commended the tions about UYEP, the BLST Government and NCDC for and the YJC. their support. Six youths are Youth trainees were ap- featured in this Youth Profile proached on random and column. The youths are opti- asked their views about the mistic about the project out- project, and the BLS training comes. They stated that the in particular. It was most ob- YJC was good but had differ- vious most trainees expressed ing views about the BLST. some level of satisfaction Their thoughts included here Jason, 23… “BLST Lydia, 23… BLST lessons not clear.� was too short.� whilst others reserved their have been edited. Gari, 24… “YJC was Francisca, 24… “My first Susan, 26… “First my first paid job.� paid job was in YJC.� Lohia, 27… “BLST time work for me.� too short time. � Gari and Jason live in the Eugene Michael and Fred Lydia Hareka and Susan Big H village. Gari is from Sarea, both from the Gulf Francisca Maa, origi- Hahane come from differ- the hinterlands of Tapini in province have lived in the nally from Hamuhamu ent ethnic groups; Lydia the Goilala district, Central Ranuguri settlement all village along the West from Gulf and Susan of province has been living in their lives. ‘The project is coast of Kerema, Gulf Hanuabada village in the HB for many years since an eye opener for us,’ they province. She first heard NCD. Both are excited leaving his village. Like said. As like all other about the UYEP from about working in the Gari, Jason also lives in youths, both said they friends and when the UYEP and both have HB and they agreed the could spend most of their YJC was mooted she been engaged in the YJC YJC and BLST are good, time with other youths teamed up with some of for the past two months and hoped the BLST doing nothing. They said her friends from the and underwent the BLST. would be more intensive in both the YJC and BLST Ranuguri settlement to Susan and Lydia said future. Both Gari and Jason helped the youths to be- work in the project. Like working under the YJC have said they were ex- come aware of government Francisca, Lohia from program was good be- cited to be part of the pro- programs which are initi- Hanuab ad a Village cause they earned some gram the Government has ated to assist youths find heaped praise for the for money but would have initiated to address youth jobs however the BLST YJC and BLST which wished BLST be longer. unemployment in the city. should be held longer. has helped both girls. Volume 1, Issue 4 Page 3 January, 2013 Youth leaders call for urban youth project expansion nationwide They believed problems fac- ing youths in the country were similar. “Problems faced by youths in Port Moresby is in a nutshell, the same problems and issues confronting our youths in all parts of PNG,� they said. The leaders echoed the UYEP is a National Government Peter Tonao Jenny Soo Robin Hevese Cr Lady Dibela Cr. Elis Maso initiative and a national pro- gram and as such this project should be replicated in all Madang is interested in These leaders joined other said youth issues in PNG other provinces. implementing the Urban community leaders in NCD were national issues and The leaders also visited the Youth Employment Project. Cr Maso and Lady Dibela, would like the Government National Youth Commission, Senior youth leaders from who had had called for the give equal attention with a UN agencies and other gov- the Madang Provincial Ad- project to be implemented view to starting such pro- ernment organizations. ministration visited the Pro- nationwide because of its grams in the provinces. They are satisfied the NCDC ject Management Unit last benefits for youths. The leaders have said to with able leadership in Gover- December and were im- The three are Peter Tonao, request their Provincial nor Powes Parkop and his pressed with the national President Provincial Youth Government to start discus- NCDC Management would government supported pro- Council, Robin Hevese, sions with the National support the project to materi- ject currently being imple- Provincial Youth Officer Government and its core alise and become successful mented by NCDC. and Jenny Soo, an official agencies and other Interna- to address problems faced by The youth leaders said they of the Provincial Youth tional Development agen- youth in the city. Madang has would call on their Provin- Council. They were on a cies for a possible start up an effective youth program cial Government to em- fact finding mission into of UYEP in Madang and for a long time and it would brace the project in Madang Port Moresby and called reiterated Madang was be fitting for this project to be because it was an important into our office at Lakatoi ready to embrace this im- implemented, the youth lead- project for the youths. Building. The youth leaders portant program for youths. ers said. Fast Track:Youth Talking Point “I think this pro- “We’re so ex- ject has given us cited with UYEP some hope to because of the move on with benefits.� — life.�—Lydia, 23. Badili Youths. “I never thought “Opening a bank I would have a account has been bank account. made easier for I’m very thankful us.� —Kairi, 29. to UYEP.�— Gari, 24. “Thanks to UYEP “I thank the because we now project for giving have new mobile us the opportu- phones and new nity to work and bank accounts.� opening our bank ac- ‘We’re excited to be part of UYEP’—Gulf youths — Francisca, 24. counts.�— Lydia Hareka and Sarea Lavai (above) are from Hamuhamu and Eugene, 24. Iokea villages respectively and now reside in the popular Ranuguri settlement at the back-page of Konedobu in the NCD. Both youths have been part of the youths engaged by the project under its YJC “I have learned “The project is some good things new and just at Konedobu. Lydia left Grade 8 in 2001 and has lived with her in the BLST. It started. I hear mother and four other siblings for the most part of her life at was like going opportunities are Ranuguri. For this Hamuhamu girl, its has been a dream come back to school.� there so looking true. For Sarea, the YJC has been his first paid job since leaving — Boroko youth. forward to it.� primary school early in 2000. Sarea says the YJC and BLST have — Susan, 26. opened a new chapter in his life and would move on from there. Page 4 UYEP Newsletter Urban Youth Employment Project UYEP to provide skills, training for US$19.2m Project Management Unit Lagatoi Haus, Ground Floor, The Urban Youth Employment Pro- and managing conflict, to name a PO Box 7270, BOROKO, NCD ject (UYEP) is a Government project few. National Capital District managed by the NCDC. The project Following a basic numeracy and is financed through an IDA Credit of literacy test, youth are placed in US$15.8 million, a Korean Trust one of two work schemes. Tel: (675) 325-3741 Fund grant of US0.6 million and ad- Email: enquiries.uyep@gmail.com The first is the Youth Job Corps ditional funding from GoPNG with (YJC), a community-based labour 10 per cent commitment by NCDC. intensive road maintenance and Yumi Wok Bung Wantaim NCDC has committed to providing an rehabilitation/workfare scheme Strongim Yut Strongim Siti annual contribution of 10 percent where they are eligible for 40 days counterpart funding for the project of work. The second is five (5) duration; and the Government of months of On-the-Job Training, an PNG has allocated K1 million of its entry-level “mini-apprenticeship� Development Budget in 2011 and scheme that is supported by a num- 2012. In addition, PNG LNG has ber of key NCD-based employers contributed US$900,000 to UYEP. from the private and public sectors The project will provide knowledge, and civil society. skills and work experience to unem- The project aims to promote public- ployed youth through a classroom- private partnerships in the imple- based and on the-job training. mentation of market-orient training, www.ncdc.gov.pg Selected youths will participate in the Basic Life Skills Training, which which is demand driven. Up to current, the UYEP has con- focuses on issues such as community ducted several Basic Life Skills service, respecting diversity, health Training in Port Moresby with over and hygiene, the benefits of saving 634 youth trainees trained. Feb 4 start for pre employment training (PET) for industrial, business The Pre Employment Train- UYEP ELIGIBILITY SCREENING SURVEY (ESS) ing for PET-Industrial and PET-Business have com- SET FOR FEBRUARY 18-22 & 25-27 menced for youth trainees who have gone through the The ESS for Intake 3 into the Urban Youth Employment Project will start on Monday, BLST last year. Feb 18 to Friday, Feb 23 and continue to the following week Monday, Feb 25 to Wednesday 27. The ESS will be conducted by UYEP contractor Sistemas will take place The youth trainees were for youths in North Waigani, Morata, Gerehu, Boroko, Kaugere/Kilakila and Taurama. selected after scores for the Basic Literacy and Nu- ESS DATES & VENUES meracy test which was con- ducted at the end of the Waigani Lifeline Centre BLST. 18, 19 & 20 Feb A good number of trainees Morata Vocational Centre scored pass marks and those 21, 22 & 25 Feb with the highest scores have been selected to attend the Charles Lwanga - Gerehu one-month PET training. 18, 19,20, 21 & 22 Feb Those youths who did not sit for the test and/or who did St Martins Church– E/Boroko not pass the test will go into 18, 19, 20,21 & 22 Feb Youth Job Corp (YJC). Shalom Baptist Kaugere Youth trainees under YJC 25, 26 & 27 Feb will be engaged in the public works program and attached Taurama (to confirm) to the NCDC Engineering  Koki Youths under the YJC...... Community Leaders also play 25, 26 & 27 Feb section to undertake works. a key role in the communities and their support is critical to youths enrolling in the UYEP.