Potaput Village, just a stones throw from the mighty Markham River on Friday July 15, saw a number of its members graduate with certificates, a first in the area in a long time.
The graduation followed two weeks of training run by the Ginigoada Foundation to 74 interested member of the community.
The 74 graduates came from as far as Mare, to the North and Labu Pileh to the South of Potaput.
“I spent K8 a day for two weeks to get this certificate. After these two weeks of training, I am satisfied that the money was well spent”, student’s representative Charlie Absalom expressed in his remarks.
In his speech, Absalom also pleaded for the same training to be conducted along the Highlands Highway. As expressed clearly, this is so that youths along the national highway will try to earn their living by sweat and hard work and not by doing illegal activities.
A day in that two weeks training was given to Michelle Karani, a staff of BSP’s Lae (Market Branch) to conduct a one day Financial Literacy Training which saw students being awarded a certificate for their participation.
On graduation day, the proud students ended up receiving two certificates. The Life & Business Skills Certificate from Ginigoada and the Financial Literacy Certificate from BSP were awarded to the graduating students.
The trainer, Gini Galamo, in his keynote speech, thanked and praised Digicel PNG Foundation for their ongoing support in assisting Ginigoada Foundation run their programs.
“Digicel PNG does not only take from us, but as you all can see, they give back to the community and the people through Digicel PNG Foundation” Galamo explained to the students and the community.
Also highlighted in his speech, Galamo briefed the audience about the Ginigoada Foundation and its functions. As explained by Galamo, Ginigoada Foundation is an NGO dedicated to teaching people; especially youths on how to better manage their life by managing the little they have to make something out of nothing.
It was a graduation to remember for the community, graduating students and business houses representatives, as sing sing groups, theatrical performances including dancing and drama were presented as entertainment by a small theatre group from Labu.
Including the graduating students, there were about 150 people who attended the jubilant occasion. These were people from Potaput Village and the surrounding villages, Ginigoada Foundation trainers, representatives from business houses in Lae City including Digicel PNG and Digicel Foundation, BSP and PNG Family Health. Also present at the occasion was Wampar LLG President Michael Poane and other distinguished guests.
Ginigoada Foundation is currently enrolling students for their next two week training at Pepsi Compound, along the backroad of Lae City. This training is open to anyone who is able to attend.
