YWAM Medical Ships Managing Director Ken Mulligan

The purpose of the MoU is to establish a respectful and collaborative working relationship for the purposes of engaging and empowering young people.

Kwato Church have made available to YWAM the building currently referred to as the “The Interdenominational Youth Empowerment Centre.” The property will be utilised by YWAM for a range of training courses designed to help develop character, skills and knowledge - contributing toward the broad goals and principles of the National Youth Policy and the Higher and Technical Education Plan of PNG.

It is working together with YWAM – University of the Nations Kona Hawaii to expand their operations in PNG this month by exploring the feasibility of the campus.

YWAM has been invited to establish the campus by the Member for Alotau Open and Minister for National Planning & Monitoring, Charles Abel.

Central Province Governor, Kila Haoda, came good on his 2016 operational funding pledge to support the work of the medical ship.

This follows the presentation of K50,000 earlier in the year to meet the 2015 operational funding pledge.

Governor Haoda, accompanied by Central Provincial Administrator, Gei Guni Raga, said the provincial administration is proud of its partnership with YWAM Medical Ships in the Central Province.

“Our partnership with YWAM Medical Ships is an initiative that brings great joy to my heart,” said Governor Haoda.

The visit came just hours before MV YWAM PNG (and her volunteer team from 15 nations) was scheduled to set sail on the first outreach voyage of its Stage 3 deployment to Gulf Province.

Puma Energy has been a major supporter of YWAM Medical Ships since 2015 through the provision of MV YWAM PNG’s total fuel and lubricant requirements. This was for their healthcare and training activities in the Southern region and Huon Gulf.

An addition to this year’s program is another patrol tender donated by AusAID which will be used to transport health care teams and supplies to extremely remote areas  through  the MV YWAM PNG.

This will be in collaboration with local health authorities.

YWAM medmical ships Managing Director, Ken Mulligan says the new patrol tender will increase capacity to help mobilize training and health care patrols over large distances and strengthen the rural health sector.

Improvements include the addition of a second extended-range patrol tender, which will be used to transport mobile healthcare teams and supplies to extremely remote communities from the MV YWAM PNG, in collaboration with local health authorities.

The patrol tender was purchased, fitted out and installed with the support of funds granted from Australian Aid, who have committed $A2 million to YWAM Medical Ships' work over a four-year period.

The voyage comes after the successful completion of the first part of Stage III of the MV YWAM PNG’s refit; the construction of an improved patient waiting area, medical re-stock room, a training space for local health workers and an extended-range patrol tender.

YWAM Medical Ships Managing Director, Ken Mulligan, said it was wonderful to have the MV YWAM PNG on her way home.