The PNG Civil & Identity Registry has engaged 112 student volunteers to participate in its Student Volunteer Program (SVP) from January to February this year to help with clearing out backlogs and NID Registrations since 2015.
The volunteers will undergo a one-day hands on training which will begin tomorrow.
According to the Acting Registrar General, Noel Mobiha, PNGCIR will also engage student volunteers from Lae and Kokopo to participate in the SVP program because of the facilities put in place in these two provinces.
Mobiha said that the SVP is in line with Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape’s “Take Back PNG” initiative.
“Such programme needs to last long enough to allow young participants to develop job-related competences and to prove themselves in the specific work environment.
He added on saying that as a result, they’ll get an idea for their future career path and decide what they like (or don’t like) to do. And to build self-confidence and develop a sense of responsibility.
He said to be efficient, PNGCIR is targeting specific groups of young people especially those at risk of becoming unemployed in the long term and those that are still in school.
“The path to work for young people often involves temporary jobs or internships which are frequently unpaid”, said Mobiha
Mobiha said that PNGCIR will not be paying the volunteers as they have volunteered with their hearts to serve the people of Papua New Guinea. However, the management will be providing refreshments and transportation for the volunteers as they will be working day and night shifts respectively.
He also said that the work performance of students who graduated in tertiary institutions during the volunteer program will determine whether they will be recruited by the PNGCIR going forward.
Furthermore, Mobiha said that the code of conduct is very high in terms of punctuality, prohibition of alcohol, restrictions to in-house boyfriends/girlfriends relationships and most importantly, people who do not have loans or debt ridden in terms of their pocket pay.
This program was specifically designed for high school-aged students, continuing students in tertiary institutions, and those that have recently graduated from a tertiary institution hence to help set them up for successful careers.
The students will assist in processing the backlog of birth certificates and NID Registration data for the entire country from 2015-2019