Papua New Guinea Union Mission

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Youth & Health Meeting in Manus

Posted on Aug 18, 2010

Manus Youths Undergo Youth and Health Training

by Nancy Lagdom

PNGUM Youth Director Pr. Timothy Sandau giving out instructions to the youths for the marching drill.

Pathfinders and Adventurers of Nuwok Adventist Church sang and supported the health awareness program.

Manus Secondary School students gathered in their mess for the awareness program

 Youth Leaders and Coordinators from churches in Manus have undergone a youth and health program. A total of 165 men and women who lead out and co-ordinate youth activities within the churches and districts spent a week in Nuwok, Central Manus, where they learnt how a new youth class called Ambassador should be coordinated within the church and the basic health issues surrounding the lives of young people especially HIV/AIDS. 

 Opening the workshop, PNGUM Youth Director Pr. Timothy Sandau challenged the youths to grasp every bit of information from the program and go back and make a difference in the lives of young people in their churches and communities. He said young people today are exposed to so many things and the church must be equipped to educate and guide these young people in the decisions they make in life. He said the church; especially the youth department must create an environment that’s conducive to the needs of young people.

Health topics especially HIV and AIDS was the focus and included a presentation by Manus Provincial AIDS Committee (PAC) on the current HIV/AIDS trend and situation in Manus. Many were shocked to learn that HIV was slowly increasing in the province and that the young people there were already in the most vulnerable group. There was also a testimony from a Person Living with HIV (PLHIV). For most this was their first time to talk with and meet someone who is living with HIV. Other health topics discussed included Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s), Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer. The health session ended with First Aid presentations especially on Cardio-Pulmonary Resusciatation (CPR) 

The youth sessions began with issues and topics on adventurer and then on to pathfinder and youth. Pr. Sandau stressed the importance of the church introducing the Ambassador class in between Pathfinder and Youth. He said the Ambassador class composed of junior youths between the ages of 16 and 22. These are people who have just come out of the pathfinder classes and are not yet ready to become youths.  Most times their ideas and thoughts will not agree with the youths thus, their interest in youth activities diminishes. The Ambassador class prepares them for youth programs later on. Practical sessions in the afternoon included marching drills on the opening and closing ceremonies.

 The program also included a HIV awareness program in Manus Secondary School, which had a huge turnout from the students; and a HIV Awareness program during closing sabbath at the church in Lombrum Naval Base.