A total of twenty People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) within the Rabaul Urban LLG (RULLG) of Rabaul District have successfully completed a 4-day financial literacy training with the aim of enhancing their capacities.
The training was recently conducted early this month (July) at the Rabaul Urban conference room which was facilitated by the RULLG Community Development office and coordinated through the district social sector.
When giving a brief update of the program, the RULLG Community Development Officer Rum Minicus said that the financial literacy training was piloted last year by RULLG and is focused on essential skills such as basic bookkeeping; budgeting and saving.
“Most of these PLWDs living in town have their own roadside markets or are sometimes engaged in fishing, gardening, assisting with errands and other economic activities that they are capable of doing, however managing their little income is still a challenge.”
She said most of the time they feel left out of such vital programs and other developments and such trainings will help to empower them with necessary skills.
Meantime, Long Uradok a participant and Chairman of the Rabaul Town Disability Association when giving his response during the closing of the training expressed his gratitude for the training.
“I have been on this wheelchair all my life, and it’s my means of transport. I do my errands and do mobile sales whenever I can.”
“When cruise ships visit Rabaul, I usually volunteer to help with tour guides in exchange for a few dollars.”
He said that such trainings will better help to better manage whatever little they make and foster a more inclusive community for all.
Furthermore, the financial literacy training for PLWDs will also be carried out in the other LLGs in the next month.