After over a decade of continuous hard work to establish a platform for the youths of the Sinesine Yongomugl district of Simbu province to voice their concerns, the district finally has a new District Youth Development Council to do that, and more, all thanks to some great collaborative work. It took 11 years of continuous work in order to have a formal, independent youth voice mechanism and structure that is legitimate and recognized by the Youth Development mandated agency, under the leadership of the local Member of Parliament, Kerenga Kua, who set the foundation of establishing the United Sinesine Yongomugl Youth Association, which has transitioned into a District Youth Development Council that connects youth representatives from Ward level, to the Local Level Government (LLG) and then to the District. The outcome was a collaborative effort of the National Youth Development Authority (NYDA) and the District Development Authority of SineSine Yongomugl, with the support from the Minister for Petroleum and MP, Kerenga Kua. The commissioning of the interim executives of the youth council and the official launching ceremony, which was hosted by the Director General of the NYDA Mr. Joe Itaki, was held at the Ku Junior High School on the 17th of November, and witnessed by the Provincial Administrator for Simbu Province Mr. John Punde, Simbu Provincial Community Development Advisor Ms. Catherine Aiwa, as well as the Sinesine Yongomugl District Development Authority (DDA) representative Mr. Dennis Bal and his delegation. During the launching ceremony, Mr. Punde congratulated NYDA and the DDA for establishing the first District Youth Development Council in the province, and he went on to invite NYDA to establish youth councils for the remaining 5 Districts in the Province. Mr. Itaki in his remarks acknowledged the call to action by the Provincial Administrator and further stated that the youth council in the district opens many opportunities for the personal and skills development of youths. It is an avenue that will groom young leaders to be agents of change in society. He added that the NYDA considers the youth council network as a vehicle for youth service delivery that acts as the engine room for youth development work, resource mobilization, and meaningful youth engagement in LLGs, Districts and in the Province. The same sentiments were shared by Ms. Aiwa. “The National Youth Development Authority will return next year to continue to build the capacity of the youth council by conducting Leadership Capacity Building workshops and Skills Development Trainings to empower youths within the district,” she said. “At the same time, it will consult with the remaining 5 Districts within the province in preparation for the setup of their district youth councils as well and hopefully the Provincial Youth Development Council of Simbu.”