Job Poka's story 

Job is wearing a green t-shirt in this picture. He is with some of the other juvenile prisoners at Kerevat Jail. Most juvenile prisoners are in prison for the abuse of elicit drugs and alcohol consumption. This is reflective of their boredom and frustration because of a desperate lack of opportunity for most young people in Papua New Guinea.  

Job Poka is 16 years old and was caught drug trafficking with the aim of earning some quick money to further his education. Like many families, his family could no longer afford his school fees but Job didn't want to drop out of school. He wanted to learn, get a job, and make a contribution. 

Instead he finds himself thrown in with adult inmates in a high risk environment and could serve up to 5 years in prison.  

Job has been receiving medical treatment from the Mustard Seed Global mobile HIV-AIDS clinic visits to the prison. He is the sort of young person we are considering for our Social Enterprise Supermarket traineeships. 

Planning for the first supermarket is underway and Mustard Seed Global has been approached by the East New Britain Provincial Government to develop an out of jail rehabilitation program for juvenile prisoners. 

Many lives and futures are at stake and we need your support to take the opportunities at Kerevat Jail. 

Donate now and help young people like Job Poka