A total of 72 villagers attended a 4-day training and graduated with a certificate in Strategic Planning on the 11th of January 2025, in the Mambe-Manuara area in Turubu Local Level Government (LLG) in Wewak, East Sepik Province. The initiative was spearheaded by Peter Chanel Usouri, a final-year law student from the University of Papua New Guinea. Usouri saw that his community had everything to progress in terms of development, but it lacked planning skills. Hence, he attended a Strategic Planning Workshop for trainers in Port Moresby and went back to his village in Manuara and conduct the training. He was assisted by three other students from Divine Word University (DWU). Clive Naro, a final-year Tourism and Hospitality Management student; Michellyn Molok, a final-year Rehabilitation Science; and Troy Mabos, the Sustainable Livelihood Officer Project Sepik Inc. and also, a final-year Environmental Health student from DWU. Usouri said when he approached elders in his area about the issue he identified, they did not hesitate to support him. “They quickly organized, and everyone contributed towards the workshop," said Usouri. He said all the resources needed to run the training, including a printer, stationery, generator, fuel, and food, were all funded by the community. Usouri said this is a reflection of a well-structured community that holds the true spirit of unity and a desire to progress. “The community has a lot of resources and has worked sustainably over the years to generate income, but they lack the skills to plan their work. This training is a big bonus and a boost to those 72 participants who have attended the training,” he said. Ward 18 councilor of Manuara, Enerst Jinimeri, thanked the students for their initiative. “I have the Kanda accord 1, which is the ward development plan, but I don’t know how to achieve this plan. This training has helped me, and now I can do a strategic plan for my ward with the help of the 72 participants. Also, I ticked one of the boxes in the Kanda Accord 1 after the training. This is something I could not believe and something we have been lacking for years,” he said. The soon-to-graduate students had quite an experience while staying in Mambe-Manuara and delivering the training. What struck Troy Mabos most, besides the warm hospitality, was that they left their training equipment carefree when going around the community without being concerned about theft by the locals. “Manuara community can be a model community for Wewak district and East Sepik province for their kind hospitality,” said Mr. Mabos. He encouraged the community to maintain such kindness and hospitality if they wish to progress and see positive changes in their community in the future. The initiative from the students and the cooperation of the community inspired the Deputy Governor of East Sepik and the Turubu LLG president, David Kausik. He said this is a first of its kind in his LLG; hence, he pledged K10,000 to support such programs in the future. “The training is just in time, as they have the LLG meeting in a few weeks' time. This will be very helpful in their meeting to plan for the LLG development,” said Mr. Kausik. The training and the graduation ceremony have prompted interest from neighbouring communities, who have now requested to have the training held in their respective areas.