Attendees at Youth Resource Week were given a harsh reality check on job opportunities at the event held in Port Moresby city.
Misconceptions about the event were brought up by attendees when they were given the opportunity to ask questions to speakers on the briefing stage.
One of the issues brought up by an attendee was that many individuals assumed that Youth Resource Week was there to provide jobs for the unemployed.
Present at the Briefing Stage was Key Partnerships Director for Youth Resource Week, John Pora clarified the misconceptions.
“In Papua New Guinea there’s only 1.2 million spaces of work and the other 6.9 million are unemployed.”
“Our country is nearing its 50th independence, and this old mindset of waiting to get a job should be broken.”
“Starting onwards from the 50th anniversary, let’s not be spectators in our own country; let’s create our own opportunities, in our own land.”
“We cannot be dependent in our own country.”
He gave an illustration of a household with only two individuals working in a ten-person household.
“No household can survive with just two people working, while the rest are eating.”
“If that is the case, then Papua New Guinea needs to change that and it’s going to start with us present here at Youth Resource Week.”
He further clarified that Youth Resource Week PNG is not promising anyone anything.