If Papua New Guinea’s Government, churches and communities worked together, problems such as school leavers and unemployment would be solved, a welfare worker has said.

He is the executive officer of the Port Moresby Community Development Group, Mr Semese Sea.

Mr Sea has just returned from a six-week overseas study tour to Africa, India and Australia.

He said the Government, in particular, should aid any small businesses and workshops in villages both financially and technically.

Churches, too, had a responsibility to take action when people had problems.

Mr Sea said that he was impressed with the African and Indian churches and governments’ involvement in community development projects.

While in Tanzania, East Africa, Mr Sea said he visited a village workshop provided by parents for youths from 10 to 20.

They learned pottery, carpentry, brick and furniture manufacturing.

The Government provided equipment and money to start the projects, but the youths and their parents did the work.

Mr Sea said the workshop did not get any further financial support from the Government once the business was established.

They had to keep gaining by what they produced.

Mr Sea also said that it was the first time he had seen girls doing carpentry, brickmaking making furniture instead of sewing or cooking.

If such projects were started in PNG, there would be no employment or school leavers walking around without being occupied.

On his trip to India, he also visited India’s biggest women’s organisation, “Grail”, in action.

This organisation had women involved in all fields and professions who visited village mothers and girls, setting up groups on nutrition, sewing, cooking, health, sports, and women’s leadership.

Mr Sea said that whenever a women’s association had to be formed, the Government was notified for financial help.

Mr Sea also visited Australia for discussions with Community Aid Abroad (CAA) on aid for the Port Moresby Community Development Group.

Mr Sea said CAA had provided financial aid for three years.

He said this went towards setting up projects in rural settlements to improve the standard of living.

Mr Sea’s trip was monitored by the Canadian University Service Overseas.

To see this and access more stories from our 55-year-old history from the 1950s to 2000s, do visit our Post-Courier archive or email denaha@spp.com.pg or call +675 309 1120 for more information.