Working as a static guard while being a full time student has not been a problem for Joseph Maima, who had recently graduated from the Lae secondary school.
Maima started working as a guard for Kuima Security company in Lae after his grade 10 exam.
He worked through to grade 11 and left work after he was streamlined into bio-chemistry.
He went back to work this year, a week before the grade 12s National Examination where he worked in the night and sat for his exams during the day.
I carry my study notes with me to where I will be stationed and I study at the same time. When morning came, I sat for the day’s paper.
My mum is a cleaner and my dad is a guard so after seeing how they struggle to give me bus fare and pay for my school fee, I decided to work.
Joseph Maima
Maima is the last of three children from Chimbu Province’s Sinesine district.
Kuima Security Lae operations manager Ishmael Kekeao said:
I would want to encourage youth that are the same age as Joseph to get out and try to do their own thing and not to depend on their parents.
There is no barrier between school and work, if Joseph can graduate while working and it is a good example and inspiration to other students.
He said a lot of students these days make excuses like having no bus fare and school fee and become a burden to their parents.
He works in the night and attends classes during the day so I believe this young man will come out to be a strong man because of the struggle he went through.
Kekeao
Maima encourages youths his age to not depend on their parents and give excuses.
They can work and still graduate. Youths my age think life is hard but it is not because they depend too much on their parents.
Maima
The 22-year-old finds working as a static guard to be a humble profession and is at the moment working for Kuima Security firm.