YOUTH members from different Christian Church denominations in the Panatina Ward of Honiara City have participated in the World Youth Exchange Program held in Seoul, South Korea, recently.
The three-week event saw youth participants from countries around the world, including Solomon Islands, shared their talents and cultures with South Korean youths and vice-versa.
The participation of Honiara Christian Church youths in the World Youth Exchange Program was facilitated by the Honiara City Councilor for Panatina Ward, Lydia Yeo.
Cr Yeo through the Perch Christian Community High School, which she owns, facilitated arrangements for the participation of young Solomon Islanders in the event.
Youth Team Leader Solomon Kalu Jr said, the purpose of the World Youth Exchange Program is for youths from around the world to share their talents and cultures and at the same time share the word of God through prayer, sharing of the Word of God and gospel music with their counterparts in South Korea.
“For me as a team leader and participant, I learned a lot from this program since it involved a lot of practical things, not only prayer but business and science.
“I learned many good things to help me as a young man. I learned about how the business environment works and at the same time, I was also spiritually fed with God’s word,” he said.
Mr Kalu Jr encouraged other local youths who are talented in music, technology and business to use their talents for God by involving in church activities and sharing their talents with other young people.
Another Solomon Islands participant in the program, Patteson Hermas Otini said, the program really helped him to see how schools operate in South Korea and how people live and interact with each other.
“I learn about a lot from South Korea. I learn about how they live, how they interact with each other and how their communities work together for their common good.
“The first thing I learned is the hospitality – how to welcome people, respectful manners towards their elders and each other. Other things I learned were punctuality, cleanliness and healthy eating which leads to longevity,” Mr Otini added.
Mr Otini said, South Korea is a prosperous nation because people live according to the principles of God.
“So as a young citizen and youth of Solomon Islands, the World Youth Exchange Program helped teach me on how to become a great and strong leader in my country in the future and it also instilled in me a positive mindset to contribute to nation-building.
“My message to other young people out there is to involve themselves in positive things. Do not be lazy. You must work hard and connect with God. Develop your talent, contribute to national development and make an effort to see our nation grow and prosper,” he said.
Perch School Principal Seralyn Lupa Iputu said, the youth representatives were selected from Perch Christian Community High School and other schools and churches within the Panatina Ward.
“This program is very important since it develops youths’ talents. Some of the participants were school leavers but we involved them since they have the talent of singing. When we arrived there, it was more than singing and talents.
“We learned and develop how to pray and involved in Christian education classes and Maths classes. We made site visits to the Korean Maritime High Schools and visited one of the top Korean universities and this was to motivate the youths’ career-wise and talent-wise.
“For me as a teacher, I leaned about how to organize school programs, about character building. Learning from the schools there was an eye-opening experience,” the school principal stressed.
The program is annual program and Cr Yeo will work to ensure that youths from Honiara get to attend this annual event again next year and beyond.
By RAYMOND HULANGA
Solomon Star, Honiara
