Located along the Markham Plains of Morobe Province, is the Umi Technical Vocational Training Centre (TVET), Umi is one of the beneficiaries of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF).
Having been commissioned in 2019 the institution is now using its Workshop Buildings with the tools and equipment supplied under the Human Resource Development Project Phase 2 (HRDP.2).
The HRDP.2 Programming is one of the Projects implemented in the country through the PNG-EU Development Cooperation.
Lydia Nantzu is directly benefiting from this intervention from the European Union and has expressed her gratitude to the European Union for such a tremendous support like this.
Young Lydia is the only female in her class studying the trade of Welding and Metal Fabrication after seeing the need for this trade in her family.
“ I have all brothers and they are carpenters who have skills in building but none of them have the skills of plumbing, so I decided to take up this training so I can provide that expertise in my family.
I find learning here is made easier as we have the hands-on experience with the hand tools available and I would like to thank the European Union and the PNG Government for bringing this assistance to us which has made our learning much more efficient.
The tools used here are similar to tools used out in the industry and I find this is a bonus for us studying here.
Learning amongst males is not an issue as my male classmates are always helpful when it comes to practical lessons, giving me a hand when it is needed,”
Like Lydia, students in Umi and all the other nine (9) TVET Centres who have benefitted from HRDP.2 will have access to the same tools and machines in their workshops.
This has also improved teaching as students understand what is being taught with practical activities.
Implemented at a cost of K38 million for critical infrastructures and K8.9 million kina for tools and equipment in the workshop buildings, this Project is in line with the country’s national development aspirations by targeting human resource development.