By Sr Alice Fulgencio FMA

MHCVETFC, Boroko, Port Moresby. 15 May 2025 -- Mary Help of Christians Vocational Education Training FODE Centre (MHCVETFC) is in its 4th year of operation since it started in 2022. The vocational and FODE Centre is a dream come true not only for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians who are celebrating their 25th year of presence in PNG in 2026, but more especially for the marginalized young women who had been out of the system and are give a second chance at education in the Centre. From the enrolment of 46 students in its first year of operation in 2022, it now has 134 students taking up Vocational Education Training and/or FODE.

The school offers a holistic, quality, and hands-on training in three vocational courses: Office Administration, Commercial Cookery and Dressmaking and Tailoring. This project on the socio-economic empowerment of marginalized young women and contribution to gender justice is funded by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation. As the local counterpart, the PNG government, through Hon. Governor Powes Parkop and Hon. Minister Justin Tkatchenko, has not wanted to support the school, which benefits many young women who have been out of the school system for some years. Most of them come from Port Moresby, particularly from the Moresby South District.

The quality training is not just on vocational skills but more importantly on honing attitude and character. The school has a regular CRE program, Salesian Youth Groups formation, a bi-monthly wellness program, as well as guidance counselling. Teachers emphasize the values of honesty, responsibility, commitment and critical thinking and as Salesian educators, they are encouraged to apply the pillars of the Preventive System in dealing with the students in their day-to-day engagement. The family spirit is very much alive as students feel free to dialogue with the Sisters, their teachers and their peers.

A very notable change can be seen from the first time the students arrive in the institution to the time that they complete their FODE upgrading or full correspondence, or vocational training. The success stories of those who are working now can bear out the transformation of these youth from shy, insecure, vulnerable women to confident, empowered and strong women ready to engage in society and in their local communities. The transformation is also due to the awareness of gender-based, family sexual violence and domestic violence carried out by experts from the Business Coalition for Women (BCFW) and the FemiliPNG. The yearly youth camp on Laudato si’ is a significant venue to develop and train the students in leadership and communication skills. The Media Education Seminar for selected students is another means of equipping them to be creative leaders and advocates of social media for education and evangelization.

Mary Help of Christians Vocational Education Training FODE Centre, a school of second chances, preparing youth for life, is a beacon of hope for every marginalized young woman who dreams of a brighter and splendid future for herself and her family.

Here is what Beryl Seguna, a past pupil of the first batch of 2023 and Miss Vani K. Nades, a Board Member of MHCVETFC and Winner in three categories at the Women Changing the World Global Award held in London last April 2025, have to say about the school:

The school has given me a sense of purpose and recognition and has enabled me to see that anything is possible with a little push and help from people like the FMA’s initiative.

I would want to be someone like that to others also, someone who can see potential and give or direct others to means that improve their lives.

My best learning from school is Empowerment. I have experience and was influenced in a way that made me know my worth and make the best of what life has to offer.

I am greatly indebted to this wonderful institution with its hard-working and ever-cheering trainers and Sisters who sacrificed their time and effort to build me as a person holistically.

As a passionate advocate for women's rights, I firmly believe in providing equal opportunities for women to demonstrate their capacity for contributing to societal transformation. MHCVETFC plays a pivotal role in this mission, offering education that not only equips students with practical skills but also fosters awareness around gender equity and environmental stewardship. - Beryl Seguna, Administrative Assistant, Pacific Building Industries.

In November 2024, I had the honor of joining the Board of Management at the Mary Help of Christians Vocational Education Training Centre (MHCVETFC). My decision to engage with this organization stems from a deep commitment to its vision of empowering marginalized young women through quality education.

As a passionate advocate for women's rights, I firmly believe in providing equal opportunities for women to demonstrate their capacity for contributing to societal transformation. MHCVETFC plays a pivotal role in this mission, offering education that not only equips students with practical skills but also fosters awareness around gender equity and environmental stewardship.

Despite being established only three years ago, MHCVETFC has already distinguished itself by producing graduates who are not only adept in their respective fields but also possess strong values and a positive attitude, qualities that are highly valued by employers across the country. The institution serves as a beacon of hope and a school of second chances, significantly impacting the lives of those who are often marginalized in our society.

I am proud to be a part of this inspiring journey and look forward to contributing to the continued success and positive influence of MHCVETFC. - Vani K. Nades, CEO and founder of Emstret Holdings Ltd., an Internet Service Provider.

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