The Pilai Long Senis (PLS) program has successfully completed two impactful phases empowering young people and communities through sport and education in Western Highland and Morobe last week .
A partnership with AFL PNG and PNG Tribal Foundation, the program uses the AFL PNG Smart Start Niukick platform to drive meaningful conversations around gender-based violence (GBV) and community development through the Senisim Pasin campaign one of Tribal Foundation program.
The program reached remote areas, including Kukumind village and Mt. Giluwe High School in the Tambul-Nebilyer District, as well as Togoba Secondary and Minimp Primary School in Mount Hagen District engaging hundreds of students and community members in open dialogue on social issues and how youths can improve by engaging in sporting activities.
Tribal Foundation lead , Jessica Sarti said during the program they played the Senism Pasin Film, a documentary depicting on gender appropriation of roles women in our communities.
The program was held in Salamanda (Lae Urban LLG), Bumayong Lutheran Secondary School, and Wanaf Community in the Onga/Waffa Rural LLG of Markham District, where they were warmly received by youth leaders, elders, and educators.
Ms Sarti said the sessions went beyond awareness, brought open community dialogue on gender equality, health, and education, supported by team-building activities and structured sports engagements.
“There are still many communities that would greatly benefit from the Pilai Long Senis Program,” she said. “Even within the provinces we’ve visited, there are countless schools and villages that have never been exposed to sports-for-development initiatives. We’ve received overwhelming interest, but due to funding limitations, we couldn’t reach everyone this round.”
Since PLS started it has shown has lot of positive impact creating safe spaces for youth and leaders to confront social issues and promote positive change using the inclusive power of sport.
She said the PLS are now calling for more support to expand the program’s reach into underserved and isolated communities across the country.
It was rolled out in NCD, Central , Morobe, Western Highlands and Jiwaka