Locals graduate in Personal Viability training

Unless a person changes from within, he or she cannot change from the outside no matter what they do in their attempt to change their lives.

This was the key message throughout a two-week Personal Viability training held at remote Minava Village in the Watut Local Level Government (LLG) area in Bulolo District, Morobe Province.

The training, funded by Hidden Valley mine, concluded on March 17 and saw 30 participants graduate with a level one certificate.

Facilitated by the Entrepreneurial Development Training Centre’s (EDTC), Beilo Barnabas, one of three PV Trainers in Morobe Province, participants went through the concept of ‘Project Me.’

Mrs Barnabas explained that Project Me is about individuals becoming a project and to work on transforming themselves to become better people in the community.

“Personal Viability is about holistic human development. Identify the good in your life and keep them and remove the bad ones. It is all about training individuals to develop themselves spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally and financially. The training is all about the development of the mindset,” she said.

Participant, Gulingo Andrew, said she was very happy to attend the training.

Being illiterate, she didnot think that the training would be suited for her but after she sat through the whole course, she now realised she can use her new skills to realise her goals.

“Plan bilong mi nau em long putim into practice wanem samting mi lainim. Mi bilip nau olsem mi ken mekim. Mi ken mekim kakaruk projek o kamapim wanpela haus em mi ken mekim nau. Mi no save long rid na rait em i nonap stopim mi. (My plan now is to practice what I’ve learnt. I believe now that I can do it. I can start a poultry project and even build my house. Everything is possible. Being illiterate won’t stop me,” Gulingosaid.

Hidden Valleymine’s Government Liaison Advisor, Abel Philemon, said they have conducted seven PV trainings at both Hidden Valley Mine communities and Wafi-Golpu Project communities.

“The most powerful training package that is available to us is Personal Viability. People within our communities must change from inside. They must change the way they think, they must change their mindset. PV will set the foundation upon which other trainings will be based,” he said.

Mr Philemon said this will motivate them to take other Community Development projects such as agriculture, women livelihood and the concept of starting your one business. He said unless a person has competence and character all his endeavours will be futile.

The training was funded by Hidden Valley mine through its Community & Regional Development Program.