Hope and a Future Offers an Ongoing Positive Impact, Two Years On

Each year, The Salvation Army Hope and a Future project empowers and enables eight young adults from Papua New Guinea to excel in education, employment and spiritual leadership, through physical training and mentorship covering four key pillars - faith, fitness, leadership and education.

Following a comprehensive selection process, eight runners from across Papua New Guinea are chosen to be a part of the program. Overall, these young people demonstrate outstanding potential for development across the four pillars and are keen to compete in the Gold Coast Marathon in Australia.

Brigitte Bugave, who is now 22, was selected to join the Hope and a Future Program in 2016. She says that being selected, and training hard for the marathon, had a ripple effect on her local community in Papua New Guinea.

"During training, many people looked up to us. A Hope and a Future is known in Papua New Guinea, and seeing us train inspired many others to follow in our footsteps."

Following six months of gruelling physical training, and the challenges involved with preparing for a major overseas trip, Brigitte says nothing compared to the challenge of running the actual marathon.

"It was pretty tough. Even with all of our training, I'd never run anything like 42.2km before. It was a huge challenge both mentally and physically, but I learnt to get through it through patience and perseverance. I learnt to never give up."

The impact of the program did not end after the marathon was complete. Brigitte says that an educational fund she received through Hope and a Future meant that she could pursue higher education - an option she did not have prior to joining the program.

"The Hope and a Future program really helped me with my education. The program paid for my college fees so that I could study in TAFE, where I completed a Certificate III in Tourism and Hospitality. If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have been able to further my education."

Brigitte also says that her spiritual life has deepened, and her confidence has grown since finishing Hope and a Future.

"The program helped me spiritually to become a better person. I also became more confident - before Hope and a Future, I was very shy. But during the marathon, the mentors asked each of us in the group to stand up and share our testimony. I got up and spoke and because of that, I now have the confidence to speak in front of a lot of people."

Today, Brigitte is back in Australia for The Salvation Army's annual Basketball and Netball Carnival in Sydney. From marathon runner to Goal Keeper, she says that she's thankful for the friends she's made and the people she can reconnect with after her last trip to the country.

"I was 20 years old when I joined a Hope and a Future in 2016. I'm now 22 and in Sydney for the Basketball and Netball Carnival. On this trip I am confident, and I already knew everyone, because I came to Australia with Hope and a Future in 2016."