Ex-scholars planning reunion

 FORMER scholars of Arawa High School in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville are planning a reunion in Port Moresby in July.

The students who grew up on Bougainville before the crisis feel it was time to give something back to the school and province that provided their education.  

The Ex-Arawa High School Reunion 2014 project is being organised by those who came through the school in 1985 but is open to other former scholars.

The school was elevated to secondary status recently. 

The proceeds from the reunion dinner on July 19 will be donated to the school to help with its plans for a computer lab and to buy computers.

One of the organisers, Jacqueline Ombeba said they had contacted the school principal last year. 

“The Bougainville crisis had displaced many of us and now we want to reconnect with everyone,” Ombeba said. 

“So far we have connected with former students in the country and abroad. 

“We have located former schoolmates on the ground in Arawa. 

“We have a page on Facebook and work is in progress to set up a webpage.

“In the early days, Arawa High School had intakes of both expatriate and national students so it is awesome to try and locate all these students,” Ombeba said.

Former student Pastor Ben Hakalits, who lives in Australia, has thrown his support behind the reunion project.