Youth make up a big portion of the population. And because they are the most active, social issues are bound to increase when they are ignored.
The integrated mixed martial arts club in Port Moresby has taken the initiative to address this population.
“Why not? Nobody else is doing it…” said Jamie Pang when asked by Loop PNG why he chose to.
Pang is working together with Lawrence Tau from the National Youth Development (NYDA) to impact youth for a positive change.
The first under this program was a visit to the Bomana prison last week, to talk to juvenile inmates about drugs, alcohol, homebrew, sexual violence and cult activities.
Pang said the aim is to educate youths on the effects of these practices and help them make positive decisions in life.
“The program is about choices: choosing the right path and finding a passion, away from drugs and alcohol…for me, it was mixed martial art that helped me vent out my frustrations…but it doesn’t only have to be sports. The idea is to find whatever they are passionate about and pursue it” Pang said.
Pang has already been teaching an MMA class, which takes place every 6pm from Monday to Friday, at the Port Moresby Betting Shop.
His team that visited Bomana with him also did some martial art demonstrations and a b-boy crew called Buck Soldiers also performed and talked with the inmates.
Pang says this visit was successful and they are working on a fixed program hoping to visit more.
They also hope to go around PNG and visit other prisons and schools to talk with youth, but need the assistance of the government or other sponsors.