A total of 150 young people and adults in Papua New Guinea’s Jiwaka Province have successfully completed short courses in Building Design and Carpentry, and Accounting and Basic Bookkeeping, delivered by the Awest Pacific Community Leadership Training Institute. These fully funded in-person trainings, part of the Pacific Partnership for Open, Distance, and Flexible Learning (ODFL) Project, were funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and supported by the Commonwealth of Learning.
Participants acquired practical skills such as timber technology, bricklaying, budgeting and cost accounting, enabling them to start small businesses and support their families. Strong interest has emerged from across the province, with churches, youth and women’s groups requesting future collaboration. The final training in Early Childhood Education will run from April to June 2025 and aims to reach urban communities in North Waghi and Anglimp South Waghi Districts.
Post-course feedback highlighted the programme’s impact on self-reliance, with many trainees already applying their new skills in home construction and microenterprise. Organisers hope the success in Jiwaka will serve as a model for future rollouts across other provinces in Papua New Guinea.