Igatang youths construct 800m road by hand

More than 100 youths from the Igatang community in Nawaeb District have taken matters into their own hands, constructing an 800-meter road using only crowbars and spades to demand better government attention.

The initiative, located in Ward 14 of the Aihi LLG, aims to provide the community with easier access to markets, stores, and transport links to town, services that have been hindered by decades of infrastructure neglect.

Community Youth Leader Joel Malcolm said the stretch of road has not seen formal maintenance since the 1990s.

“I was a small boy in the 1990s when soldiers from Igam Barracks came with graders and graded the road into the community,” Malcolm said. “Ever since then, nothing has been done. It has been very difficult for us to move out to the main road, especially during the rainy season.”

The manual labor served a dual purpose of providing immediate relief for the village and acting as a formal cry to district and provincial leaders for inclusion in future service delivery.

“This is an initiative to call out to our good member and other leaders to include us,” Malcolm said. “We also use this gesture to show we welcome any service delivery into our community.”

The event also served as a recruitment showcase. Local business houses were invited to witness the completion of the road to observe the work ethic of the Igatang youth.

Malcolm emphasized that the community hopes these businesses will consider the hardworking young men for employment in community-based programs.

Despite the lack of heavy machinery, the youths expressed immense pride in their achievement, viewing the 800-meter track as a significant contribution back to their families and elders.