Armed with a vision to transform Madang Province, this is not the first time that youth and community leader Kurere Matanzana initiated, took action and delivered to schools in Madang throughout early April, distributing school supplies, giving leadership talks and engaging with community members.
Matanzana visited a host of elementary, primary, and secondary schools in both rural and urban locations.
Amongst those visited was his former school, Tusbab Secondary, where he was invited by Scripture Union to speak during their combined fellowship at the James Marape hall and subsequently addressed the Grade 11s and 12s.
“I shared about my personal experiences, the choices I made in my life their outcomes, what challenges I faced and how I overcame in the hopes that the students who are in the similar situations can be encouraged.”
“By listening to what I went through in my life, I trust they took away a few valuable lessons to remember and which may guide them in their own lives as young people.”
During the fellowship he had spoken to about a thousand students including teachers, ancillary staff members and key stakeholders, emphasizing on the importance of being wise whilst referencing scriptures, specifically Luke 2:52 [“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”] and 1 Samuel 2:26 [“Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favour with the LORD and also with man.”]
“As a young person, how do you grow in wisdom, in stature and in favour with both God and man?”
“How do you grow in such qualities while in class, in school, and in your community?”
“Those were the questions posed and answered when referring back to scripture.”
Matanzana also engaged in community dialogues with head teachers in other schools, key individuals like councillors and teachers who support early childhood education.
“Apart from community talks, I assisted teachers set up plans on starting early childhood learning programs.”
Stationeries delivered included exercise books, reading books, papers, charts, colours, and writing utensils.