PNG'S CAPITAL CITY GOVERNOR POWES PARKOP TRANSFORMS YOUTHS TO DRIVE CHANGE TO ARRIVE AT DESIRED OUTCOMES

Let us be the change that we want to see in our city! Time is now!
 By WANPIS AKO

It was 8:43am on Friday morning.

Flow of traffic abated along the Waigani Drive in the capital city.
 I was on the road in my car.

Some six hundred youths undergoing classes of yoga, acrobatics, dances and other non-competitive sports at Taurama Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby. This is part of the Active City Development program.

Despite the humming and rumbling engines of machines and vehicles, I was overwhelmed-with positive emotions and feelings-at the sight of cleanliness of Waigani-Morata bus stop, its walkways onto the drive and its flower gardens. The bustle of street sellers is now a thing of the past.

Some six hundred youths undergoing classes of yoga, acrobatics, dances and other non-competitive sports at Taurama Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby. This is part of the Active City Development program.

Some six hundred youths undergoing classes of yoga, acrobatics, dances and other non-competitive sports at Taurama Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby. This is part of the Active City Development program.

The kind of feeling I got were somewhat the repeat of my first memories of neighboring Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane, Loss Angeles, Dallas and Washington DC in the United States.

Our city may not have the glamour and glitter like them, but it is an amazing city with thousand tribes, 860 tongues; we are united in cultural diversity.

Some six hundred youths undergoing classes of yoga, acrobatics, dances and other non-competitive sports at Taurama Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby. This is part of the Active City Development program.

It does not have many skyscrapers and marvelous architecture of roadways as good as them, but it was a whole new look. It should be maintained beyond the APEC leaders’ summit which is some 90 days away.

Came across on my sight also were volunteer cleaners along the drive.
The cleanliness in itself portrayed the highest good the participants of the Active City Development program’s Walk and Yoga for Life tribe initiated and maintained for the residents and visitors to enjoy their stay, leisure, recreation, and ride.  It also spoke volumes about the progresses that have been made and that city residents have taken ownership of their city.

Governor Parkop  with other participants of Walk and Yoga for Life doing  basic Yoga stretches at Paga Hill ring road after the walk

National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop should be commended at least to see what he has been committed to-since taking office in 2007-is eventually coming to fruition. His other initiatives are also used to address petty crimes and others.

Part of the crowd which turned out today for the Walk and Yoga for Life

However, the ugly sight of red spittle of betelnut and graffiti still remains a challenge. 
My ring tone ‘Dream it Possible’ by Jane Zhang alerted me on an incoming call.
I was forced to take the call without being caught red-handed by the men in blue

Parkop with thousands who turned out in numbers to walk the usual route from Murray Barracks to Paga Hill ring road today  as part of the Active City Development program's Walk and Yoga for Life

.
The voice on the other side of the call hinted me to an amazing event at Taurama Aquatic Centre.
I assured the caller that I was going to be there in half an-hours’ time.
I quickly had to drop my wife off at Kaugure. Wow! The cleanliness was extended to Downtown, Badili, Hohola, Murray Barracks, Four-mile and Manu.
I was true to my words when I reached there on time.

I parked the car outside the center. When I set off the car with my laptop and camera bags, I met familiar faces whom I have met before.

Parkop with thousands who turned out in numbers to walk the usual route from Murray Barracks to Paga Hill ring road today  as part of the Active City Development program's Walk and Yoga for Life

I greeted them with a grin. I was briefly checked by security officers manning the entrance. I was given access to the hall. A staff inside showed me where the activities were taking place as it was my first time there. It was classic.

I could hear the lovely voice of their teacher imparting Yoga poses and stretches on a crowd of youths. Fazilah Bazari of Yu Yet PNG Limited was audible enough with instructions in a clear accent of British English and then switched to ‘Tok Pisin.’ She was assisted by Yoga Manager Ezra Adino with 53 trainee Yoga teachers.
They are undergoing a two-week intensive Teacher training program which also included the morals and ethics, and science of Yoga. They will graduate with a certificate in Yoga teaching after the completion of the course.

Parkop with thousands who turned out in numbers to walk the usual route from Murray Barracks to Paga Hill ring road today  as part of the Active City Development program's Walk and Yoga for Life

The world-class court was packed with an assembly of youths from all across the city.

The turnout was so amazing with some 600 youths who are neither at school nor at work.

As told, many have initiated to arrive there by foot or paid for their own bus fares. I learnt later on my way out that those of whom I had met them at the entrance, were denied access because they were late to Yoga and Acrobatic class, and didn’t comply with the attire regulations. It is part of the training that students showed up clean with their foot wear.

People’s Governor Parkop has given them a second chance in life; they have found a much better life being there instead of doing nothing at home.

In that, they are introduced to feel the texture of the world-class facilities, eat in hotels, taste varieties of cuisine, flights, how to earn a living and stand on their own feet. They were even taught table manners.

Parkop with thousands who turned out in numbers to walk the usual route from Murray Barracks to Paga Hill ring road today  as part of the Active City Development program's Walk and Yoga for Life

They have turned over a new leaf to enjoy a more positive outcome based on living a more value-driven life, working hard and being disciplined, so they too can enjoy and be a part of something which seemed only luxury to others in the city.
In informal conversations I had with them, they told me that they were blindfolded by their ill-behaviours. They all realised the negative impacts of their previous behaviour. Their mind-set was negative from dawn to dusk.

I have found out that some were former convicts, rapists, street boys, drug addicts, unemployed, school dropouts, orphans, unemployed, gang members, murderers, cult worshipers and others.

Participants  doing  basic Yoga stretches after the Walk and Yoga for Life at Paga Hill ring road

Some also told me in tears that they chose the bad pathway of life to make ends meet.

Mr Bazari said Yoga had taught them doctrines and techniques which are necessary to impact behavioural change, adding: “It doesn’t preach. However, it engages a person with their whole body-physical, mental and emotional-to take personal action for a sustained change.”

Participants  doing  basic Yoga stretches after the Walk and Yoga for Life at Paga Hill ring road

Yoga, she said, is a means to arrive at the outcome which sees Port Moresby clean, safe, active, liveable, smart and an amazing city.

Active City Development program is one of the many other initiatives governor Parkop devised to change bad behaviour and attitudes of the people using non-competitive sports and holistically-driven, creative movements.

As found, the classes at Taurama shaped and moulded them to become better citizens of the city and the country at large.

Some six hundred youths undergoing classes of yoga, acrobatics, dances and other non-competitive sports at Taurama Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby. This is part of the Active City Development program.

 Those faithful and rehabilitated ones are selected for Yoga Teacher training. Such is true for the current students.

Since taking office in 2007, Mr Parkop has tried traditional methods and strategies which have been implemented to drive change but to no avail or to minimal outcomes.

Now, he has got new innovative tools and means to arrive at the same outcome.
Rome was not built overnight.

Time is the best judge of his constituents.

Some six hundred youths undergoing classes of yoga, acrobatics, dances and other non-competitive sports at Taurama Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby. This is part of the Active City Development program.

Let us be the change that we want to see in our city!

Time is now!

Author Reference: Wanpis Ako has graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and Public Relations from the University of Papua New Guinea. He has briefly worked with two daily newspapers of Papua New Guinea-The National and Post Courier. His work experience has been extended to the Prime Minister's Media Unit and the office of Parliamentary Opposition Leader of Papua New Guinea- not to mention the Ministries of Treasury, Higher Education, Communications, Information Technology and Energy.  He has got over five years experience in digital marketing, branding, public affairs, media and public relations.