Our Program Approach - PNG
Papua New Guinea’s youth face significant challenges, from limited access to education and employment to low literacy rates and high unemployment. The Santos Foundation’s Youth Opportunities initiative is transforming these challenges into opportunities. In close collaboration with local leaders, youth, and government stakeholders, the program is designed to create clear pathways to employment and economic independence.
Through a comprehensive approach, the initiative offers:
- Vocational training
- Small business development
- Agribusiness support
- Leadership programs
These programs equip young people with the practical skills, knowledge, and resources they need to succeed.
It also addresses systemic barriers such as inadequate infrastructure and financial limitations, ensuring that youth, both young men and women have equal opportunities to thrive.
With a strong focus on inclusivity and resilience, the Youth Opportunities program empowers participants to shape their futures and become agents of positive change in their communities.
Program Spotlight
Powering Education in remote PNG
In the remote highlands of Kutubu PNG, access to reliable electricity has long been a barrier to delivering quality vocational education. Without consistent power, students at the Pimaga Vocational Education and Training (VET) Centre faced limited access to tools, technology, and hands-on learning, critical components for trades like carpentry, mechanics, and electrical work.
Solar energy empowering future tradespeople
The installation of a solar mini grid has transformed this reality. Through a powerful collaboration between the Santos Foundation, USAID–PNG Electrification Partnership (USAID-PEP), SLB, and the local Pimaga community, a 99kW solar system with battery storage and backup generation now powers the VET centre, bringing clean, reliable energy to over 250 students.
This renewable energy system now powers:
- Classrooms and workshops with professional-grade tools
- Student training in high-demand trades
- Teacher housing and community facilitates, helping attract and retain skilled educators
- Night-time lighting and internet access, improving safety and enabling digital learning
Students even participated in the installation, gaining real-world experience in renewable energy systems, skills that are increasingly valuable in today’s job market.
Why It matters
“Thanks to Santos Foundation, USAID and SLB, a solar mini grid transformed Pimaga Vocational Educational Training (VET) Centre, providing equal learning opportunities ensuring inclusivity is at the heart of our courses, with both males and females using industry-qualified tools to enhance their skills and prepare for the job market.”
Mr Warubi Masahimu,
Pimaga VET Centre Manager
“Pimaga VET in partnership with Santos Foundation introduced Flexible Open Distance Education (FODE program in 2023. Santos Foundation has been instrumental in providing learning materials and wifi, internet and communications through the solar mini grid.”
Richard Hahudi
Teacher – Pimaga VET FODE Centre
PNG Sago Program
Kutubu has a significant youth bulge and there are emerging signs of many young people feeling disenfranchised. This poses a risk to communities in the District with a growing number of youths lacking access to basic services and economic opportunities. The Youth Program seeks to support and empower youth by developing employment opportunities through supporting local agriculture and other pathways to employment. Limited commercially viable products and access to markets remain major constraints to jobs growth in the agriculture sector in Kutubu, and across many parts of PNG more generally. One potential agricultural opportunity is for commercial production of sago, a viable crop in the region.
By targeting sago, a food that is integral to community life, relevance to the surrounding region’s population is high and this could facilitate the engagement of youth. Extraction of sago starch is traditionally achieved by manual processing by women and is very labour intensive. Small scale mechanised processing units may reduce labour demands on women, increase food availability and generate the potential for income generation from sales of processed product. Widespread adoption of mechanised sago processing will require unit fabrication and maintenance capacity in the region providing a skills training opportunity. This could equip young people with trade capabilities applicable to resource industry development in the region.
