Over 3000 youths from the South Sea Evangelical Church (SSEC) are gathering at Maoro School Ward 29 in Central Kwara’ae in Malaita Province for the SSEC Northern Region Youth Convention since Friday.
The SSEC Northern Region Youth Convention is being hosted based on the theme, ‘SALVATION BEFORE EDUCATION AND CIVILIZATION’.
It will end tomorrow.
Youths within the SSEC Northern Region including youths from Honiara and Malango in Guadalcanal are attending the event.
The official opening saw over 3000 youths braving the cold, muddy, and rainy morning in their colorful uniforms and banners paraded from Gwaifai Field to Maoro over a distance of 2km singing and praising God to the top of their voices.
Leading the parade was the host association; the West Kwara’ae Association 4 who leads by example making the visiting youths feel at home as they sing together with the visiting youths over the 2km parade.
The parade arrived at the Maoro School and was greeted by the host association with a spectacular welcome ceremony, which saw guests garlanded, and each visiting association greeted with a banner with names of each participating association.
Guest of honor was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace and Ecclesiatical Affairs Peter Mae officially opened the convention in a moving fashion as he spoke to the hearts of the youths before delivering his keynote address.
Over the four days, the participating youths also received spiritual talks and a number of awareness talks from invited groups to motivate youths.
One of the groups that shared with the youths on the first day was the Auki Correctional Centre (ACC) group who discourage youths from involving in criminal activities, which could lead them to prison.
The program will end on Monday morning with participating youth groups scheduled to leave for their respective destinations.
By WILSON SAENI
Auki News Bureau
