Unemployment

Action Against

In Port Moresby

From a Port Moresby correspondent

Something positive is being

done about the unemployment

and youth problems in Port

Moresby as a result of action by the Anglican, United and Catho lic Churches.

The Rev. John Key, of Moresby’s \nglican Church, recently confronted lis parishioners with a youth survey irepared by Messrs, T. E. Daw and ST. Doko for the Administration. The •eport showed that last year 1,700 people had completed their )rimary education, but places could )e found in secondary institutions for mly 1,000 of them.

The other 700 had joined the ranks )f the drop-outs who flock to the own to seek work.

The report had a dramatic effect »n the Rev. Key’s parishioners, tome 30 of them formed themselves nto a community action group, and lecided to set up an employment igency for Moresby’s youth.

A storeroom under the Koki church las been chosen as a suitable premises or the agency.

Mrs. Beverley Peterson, a parish oner who has been managing a rock shop, but who prefers to under ake some voluntary service to the ommunity, has offered to be the gency’s first director. An attractive ed-head with a vivacious personality, Jrs Peterson expects to quickly stablish contacts with the employ lent officers in the local firms.

Sympathetic

Already the Department of Labour j interested and sympathetic. There sems a good chance that the agency dll both help young people to find lbs and provide a useful service to mployers.

Meanwhile, the United Church has een busy with a scheme of its own nd has made careful and detailed lans for a mobile welfare unit which dll regularly visit the shanty settle ments scattered around the town to rovide a variety of services to both arents and children.

The Catholics have already pro ided an attractive youth centre open 3 all young people on Hubert lurray Highway at Boroko.

Port Moresby is beset with many roblems, but at least it is not lack ig in men and women of goodwill.