Youth Groups: Key to Peer Empowerment.

By Nigel Akuani- Radio Maria PNG

Port Moresby:Youth groups for peer support are an essential and unique form of service for young Papua New Guineans. 

This was the stance by five confident students of Don Bosco Technical School during their discussion of the theme ‘Youth Groups for Peer Support’, on the Chat Room program’s twentieth session, on Wednesday 24thJuly, at the NBC Radio Station.
The students in different year levels raised fundamental aspects of the theme that kept listeners captivated throughout the session. The gentlemen began with defining the topic, outlined the scientific, social, and biblical aspects, and made recommendations
to improve support to youths.

The show’s first speaker Gideon Kaluwin, studying the trade of MFM defined the theme and said youth groups were essential in both learning from each other and supporting one another. “However,” he added, “there are all sorts of groups and some groups are not the empowering kind”. The longer they stay in that group, the more they feel entrapped and find it difficult to withdraw.
Junior Paul studying ITC 1, spoke on the science of the topic and affirmed that all scientific research proved the need for youth groups. “Youths today have many different types of problems compared to youths from the early nineties. Many of them later on in their lives, end up in detrimental situations. This is the reality of PNG today, but all of these can be avoided if there are youth groups that encourage young people to live positive lives,” he stated.

Highlighting the social aspect was Grade Twelve student Nouairi Dou. He said youths made up 54% of the country’s population and clarified that most drug and alcohol abuse occurred among youths below the age of 24. “The majority of PNG is comprised of youths, and if this trend continues into the next 5-years, it would have a damaging effect on the country. There has to be an intervention, and youth groups can be that intervention. Today’s youth tend to listen to people their own age rather than their parents, elders or siblings,” he said.

Timbalu Elijah also in ITC 1 said that practicing strong Christian principles from an early age made a youth less likely to involve themselves with the wrong crowd. “Though we all come from different backgrounds, one thing that will not change, is our faith. If we hold onto Christian virtues and beliefs, it can mould and strengthen us mentally, physically, and emotionally,” he added.
Final speaker Patrick Lamboku in Grade Twelve made recommendations and advised youths to be mindful of who they choose to be friends with. “Youth groups have many positive outcomes connected to them, and churches, schools and institutions that offer effective youth groups promote good conduct amongst youths,” he concluded.

A listener from Waigani named Charlie called in during the show and requested a direction as to how to get young people out of bad and toxic groups.
On the show’s Facebook page Janet Isembi asked if there should be more engagement between NGO groups in talking to youths of NCD.

DBTS Media Animator Mr Narol Sapak spoke of his delight at the students’ discussion and said he was simply pleased with their responses. “Their level of discussion was on point because they reflected on their own personal experiences, and backed their arguments with proven facts and research,” he said.

The program’s next session on Wednesday 31stJuly, will have students from Caritas Technical Secondary School discussing the topic ‘Promoting positive attitudes among students and youth’.