The National Volunteer Service (NVS) is celebrating the continued commitment of one of its former volunteers who is still giving back long after his deployment ended.
Mr. Ondokoi Teine first joined NVS as part of Batch 19 and was deployed to Central Province as a Fish Farming Technical Officer.
During his time in the field, he worked directly with local farmers, providing technical support, training, and practical advice to help establish fish farming as a sustainable source of food and income. His work contributed to improving food security and livelihoods in the communities he served.
After his contract ended last year, Mr. Teine returned to his home community in Banz, Jiwaka Province. Instead of stopping there, he continued the work.
He now teaches local families how to handle fingerlings and set up their own fish farms, while also running his own fish farm in Murkumb.
During the recent NVS Highlands Region Volunteer Recruitment Drive in Banz, Mr. Teine was given a new role raising awareness in remote communities. Since then, he has been posting flyers, speaking with community members, and encouraging young people in Jiwaka to consider volunteering as a way to serve their country and gain valuable skills.
“Volunteering changed my life,” Mr. Teine said. “It gave me experience, confidence, and the opportunity to make a real difference. Now I want to help others have that same opportunity and mainly so that we help our people in rural communities to be self-sufficient.
”NVS staff member Malachi John said having former volunteers like Mr. Teine at recruitment drives adds credibility and inspiration to the campaign. “They are proof that volunteerism builds capacity, creates pathways for employment, and strengthens communities,” Mr. John said.
NVS commends Mr. Teine for his dedication and for embodying the true spirit of volunteerism. His journey from Fish Farming Technical Officer in Central Province to Awareness Advocate in Jiwaka Province shows that the impact of volunteering extends far beyond the period of deployment.
The National Volunteer Service is a State Agency under the Ministry of Defense that recruits, trains, and deploys professional volunteers to remote communities across Papua New Guinea.
