SAD And City Mission, Papua New Guinea

(Programme concluded - the Foundation no longer supports this programme)

Despite economic growth at is on a positive trend since the mid-2000s, Papua New Guinea faces significant development challenges, such as a high index of income inequality and youth unemployment. Economic disparities have led to an intense rural-to-urban migration, a phenomenon contributing to the expansion of urban slums and precarious settlement areas. In Port Moresby, the country’s capital, 45% of the population live in slums in difficult conditions, where crime, violence, alcoholism and drug addiction are part of the daily reality.

The Puma Energy Foundation has joined forces with Swiss Academy for Development (SAD) and City Mission (CM) to launch the “Standing on my own feet” programme in the outskirts of Port Moresby. Together, we will work to improve the livelihoods of 600 young men and 200 young women through value-based life skills education, vocational training and entrepreneurship training with the ultimate aim to enable these young men and women to earn a decent living. The programme targets in particular men who have been living on the street, are affected by alcohol and other drug problems or have been in conflict with the law, as well as women who are victims of domestic violence.

Thanks to this partnership, City Mission has been able to expand and strengthen its existing vocational training offer and introduce a new entrepreneurship programme, providing vital services and opportunities to highly vulnerable populations. Crucially, our partnership has enabled City Mission to revamp and expand its workshop for trainees, as well as standardise and improve its curricula in six trades: Carpentry, Electric, Motor Mechanics, Plumbing and Welding. Further, trainers have been supported to introduce new and interactive teaching methodologies, helping to ensure that trainees master their craft and advance on a viable path to employment.

This combination of improved teaching content, structured learning objectives and greater learning opportunities for trainers has transformed the classroom experience. Lera Mina, a plumbing supervisor and graduate of City Mission’s programme, explains: “I have noticed big changes in my classes. I feel happier and more relaxed when I am teaching because I have the right support.” Meanwhile, Patrick Lilo, a participant of the training programme, applauds the new curriculum’s clarity and accessibility: “I found the content easy to understand. This training is really practical. It addresses key elements of doing business and shows us how to tackle them."

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