Dolarose achieves her dream

Normal, Weekender
Source:

The National, Friday, April 29, 2011

Family and financial support are vital for young people to succeed in school and life, writes CHRISTINE PAKAKOTA

 

 

GOD never fails us; he alone knows our heart desires.
And a testimony to that is 24-year-old Dolarose Antonette Namani from Nindipole village, Yangaro in East Sepik who will be walking down the University of Papua New Guinea graduation podium with a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology and Sociology this afternoon.
Dolarose says: “I give all the glory and honor to God for being with me through my hard times.
“I almost gave up studies but God made me strong and I put my head up and moved on with life.”
Dolarose missed out on spacing to Grade 9 by a point in 2002 (she scored 86 while the cut off mark was 87).
Immediately it was school hunting for 2003; Gerehu Secondary could take her in but her big brother Hubert Namani had other plans.
He suggested Caritas Technical Secondary School and since he was the financier, she obliged and started Grade 9 there.
“By then dad was without a job, he finished in 2000 and Hubert was supporting the family.
“Hubert played the role of a brother and a father and never stopped investing in his sibling’s school fees.
“He was a true and real role model to me and my siblings. Thank you Hubert for the sacrifices you made for me and Joyce.”
At Caritas, school fee problems almost forced her out, but with determination she sold lollies and meat on the road side after school to support herself.
Coming from a family of seven, she had young siblings in school so she organised fundraising activities including two dances for school fees for herself and her young sister Joyce who had also enrolled at Caritas.
Dolarose said she also had good friends who were a blessing to her with the support they gave.
It was a relief for Dolarose’s family in 2006 when she scored herself a sponsorship package from the Professional Business Women association under its scholarship assistance to young PNG women that saw her successfully complete Grade 12.
All her hard work and that of her family and friends paid dividend when she made it to the University of Papua New Guinea in 2007.
Dolarose said life was much harder at UPNG in terms of school fees and she was on the verge of withdrawing but she says her prayers kept her going.
Again, her brother Hubert took care of her fees and she was determined not to let him nor their parents Fred and Ursula Namani down.
Luck was also on her side when she landed herself another scholarship package, this time from The National’s Empowering Women competition in 2009. That took care of fees in her third year.
She completed her studies last year and is currently the assistant training officer with the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission.
Dolarose says her success today is not for herself but for the many people who have contributed to what she is today – her parents, big brother Hubert, Tony Morisause, Freddy Hombuanje, the Empowering Women competition sponsors, the Professional Business Women association, a very good friend Rowena Tamayauna and a big thank you to God.
“Mum and Dad thanks for all your support and trust that you have in me.
“To my brother Hubert Namani I owe you big time, thanks Ubi for stepping in and playing the role of a father, you did it well.
“To Ubi, you fit!  Without you guys, I wouldn’t be where I am today and life would be useless for me.”
She leaves the challenge to students: “If people think you are a failure then prove them wrong that you can do it because a failure can be a successful person later.”
And as a recipient of the empowering women competition she acknowledged The National for the initiative.
“I want to encourage business houses and private sector organisations to take part in this empowering women initiative by The National by sponsoring female students at universities to complete their education and achieve their dreams.
“It really did help me and I am so happy and thankful. My dreams came true, I’m now a happy girl with no regret in life.”