YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM

By Sr. Francesca Nama, mfic
Diocesan Youth Coordinator

History
Since 1984, the Diocesan Youth Services was under the coordination of Gerald towun until recently when I was installed as the new Aitape Diocesan Youth Co-ordinator. It was hard work for me at that time, when taking over from Mr. Towun because there wasn't a good hand-over, take-over report to assist me. However, with my willingness to work I was able to delegate myself duties for the position.

In this Diocesan Program, we try to involve as many people as possible, because we believe that the Catholic Youth needs to know more about Jesus and how to live a good life, share with and care for other people like their family, the community, the Church and the Diocese.

Our vision
To help and support all the Catholic Youth to live a good life, a spiritually, morally and physically full of life, so that they're able to make a contribution to their family, village, church and community.

Recruitment
The work of our Youth Group and the Parish Priests involved, is to support all the Youth Group Leaders in their effort to share their knowledge with the people and to involve as many people as possible.

Training
Twice a year all the Youth Leaders and the Parish Priests involved, will come to the Diocese and meet. They talk about their experiences, new ideas and how to improve and expand the Youth Groups. We encourage the Youth Groups:

  • to ask for support from village leaders and Christian Communities;
  • to cooperate with the District and Provincial Government from Sandaun Province;
  • to have a close look at their community and their beliefs;
  • to strengthen the good beliefs and to get ride of the bad beliefs of the community;
  • to use the Bible as a guideline;
  • to help other people and teach them about Jesus.

    The facilitation and mobilization of young people of meaningful community living has been one of the program undertaken by the Diocese for many years. The initiative by the Diocese so far saw the establishment of 101 registered (Catholic) Youth Groups with 2, 256 registered members, all operating under three Youth Deanery Associations of Aitape, Lumi and Nuku answerable to a Diocesan Youth Board and the Bishop as the Youth Patron. The main programs undertaken over the year include Youth Networking; Youth Training for Productive and Meaningful Community Living; Youth Outreach and Participation in the Development Process.

    The analysis carried out on this main program identified the following issues of concern to be taken into account in the new plan:

  • lack of a Diocesan Youth Services Policy.
  • Absence of long term plan for youth program.
  • Need for the construction of youth services centres in the three deaneries.
  • Need to recruit appropriately qualified staff to run the youth program.
  • Lack of proper planning and budgeting for youth programs.