Essay comp announces winner

 HUTJENA Secondary School student Upa Vianney is the winner of the economic development essay for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

The Australian High Commission said Upa’s essay on the “Role of youth in promoting economic activities in Bougainville” looked at how youths could contribute to the economic development of AROB through positive participation in the peace-building process, engaging in activities that promoted economic growth and living a healthy lifestyle.

The high commission and the Bougainville government ran the essay competition as part of a recent Australia Week activities supporting youth leadership.

“To help develop our economy, we, the young people, need to first understand the economic development happening and participate in promoting and finding ways that will make our economy grow,” Upa said in his essay. 

“Young people need to participate in democratic and development processes and play active roles in peace building.”

The high commission’s counsellor Bougainville, Jane Gresham, presented the first prize – a laptop computer – to Upa and thanked the Bougainville government for assisting with the delivery of the competition. 

Second and third place getters Ida Dissing, of Bishop Wade Technical Secondary, and Thelma Sae, of Hutjena Secondary School, received dictionary sets. Almost 30 students took part.