PNG UNRE represented at 5th National Mock Youth Parliament

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PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment was proudly represented at the 5th National Mock Youth Parliament by three of its young leaders.

Two current students and one recent graduate joined 60 youth delegates from across the country for the national leadership program, held at the National Parliament House in Port Moresby from December 15–19, 2025.

(l-r) Dylan Minikula, Bethany Tapoli and Swancy Saiva.
Representing PNG UNRE were: Dylan Minikula (Final Year Forestry), Bethany Tapoli (Third Year Forestry) and Swancy Saiva, who graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor in Sustainable Tropical Forestry.

The National Mock Youth Parliament, which began in 2021, was themed Youth Leading PNG’s Next 50 Years. 

It is a collaborative initiative led by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the EU-funded Transparency and Accountability in PNG Project, the National Youth Development Authority (NYDA) and the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea. The participation of this year’s 60 delegates brings the total number of program alumni to 300.

The program brought together young leaders from all 22 provinces for interactive sessions on good governance, ethical leadership, civic engagement, data literacy and a full parliamentary simulation, giving participants hands-on experience in understanding parliamentary structures, constitutional functions and the legislative process.

Third-year student Bethany Tapoli said being part of the National Mock Youth Parliament was an amazing privilege.

“Standing alongside passionate young leaders who are already creating change in their communities inspired me greatly. This experience helped us truly understand how Parliament works and prepared us to contribute meaningfully to the future of Papua New Guinea,” she said.

Senior leaders from the European Union, United Nations and National Parliament addressed the participants, encouraging them to turn ideas into real-world action and reaffirming the importance of investing in youth leadership.

The week-long program concluded with the presentation of an Outcome Statement to national leaders, marking another milestone in empowering young Papua New Guineans to contribute to the nation’s development over the next 50 years.

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