Vanimo Green launches youth strategy

Vanimo Green has become the first district in Papua New Guinea to officially launch the National Youth Engagement Strategy 2025–2029, as part of its effort in youth development in Sandaun Province.

The two-part program began at the Sandaun Provincial Headquarter, where Community Development Officers from the four districts in Vanimo-Green, Aitape-Lumi, Nuku and Telefomin, received laptops, printers and mobile phones to strengthen youth program delivery at district level.

The equipment was presented by the National Youth Development Authority to improve coordination, communication, monitoring and reporting of youth initiatives across the province.

Director General of NYDA, Joe Itaki, said empowering frontline officers with proper tools is critical to ensuring youth programs are effectively implemented, particularly in remote districts.

He emphasized that the National Youth Engagement Strategy aims to place young people at the centre of sustainable development by addressing key challenges such as unemployment, limited access to skills training and growing social issues.

The second part of the program took place at the Vanimo Green District Headquarter in Dasi, where the strategy was officially launched.

Vanimo Green now becomes the first district in the country to launch the strategy, while Vanimo Urban Local Level Government will be the first LLG nationwide to ground the program through a project known as the Vanimo Urban Youth Employment Project.

Minister for Arts, Tourism and Culture and Member for Vanimo Green, Beldan Namah, who attended the ceremony, welcomed the initiative and pledged his full support.

Minister Namah said the program is a practical step towards addressing unemployment and social challenges affecting young people in the district and across West Sepik Province. He expressed confidence that the initiative will create meaningful opportunities and set the pace for youth employment programs nationwide.

The National Youth Engagement Strategy 2025–2029 will guide youth development programs over the next five years, with leaders emphasizing that strong implementation at district and LLG levels will determine its success.