Monalisa setting pace

Monalisa Arasi is one of the first female in her remote village in Kutubu to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and management.
Monalisa graduated recently at the Pacific Adventist University (PAU) in Port Moresby.
Standing proud and tall were her hard-working parents who were committed and had plans for their daughter.
Monalisa is from the Aiio and Hebaiya villages in lower Faso in Kutubu, Southern Highlands.
She attended Hebaiya elementary school and did grade one to eight at Waro Primary School.
From there, Monalisa was selected to Kutubu Secondary School where she did grades nine and 10.
She was selected to Wawin National High School in Lae, Morobe, to do grades 11 and 12.
Monalisa was selected to further her education at PAU and received a bachelor degree in accounting and management.
She acknowledged her hard-working parents for sending her to school and providing everything for her.
Monalisa thanked her relatives for their support, love and care during those years.
She urged girls in rural places such as her village to focus on education.
Monalisa said girls could achieve big things in life if they have faith and trust in God and be committed.
Her father, Arasi Arisa, said in their village, girls were not sent to schools.
They were kept at home to do home duties and get married.
He said most parents wanted their daughters to get married and bring in bride price.
However, Arasi said he wanted his daughter to be educated and live a good life in the future so he sent Monalisa to school and he is now a proud father.
Arasi called on parents, especially fathers to give chances to their daughters and sisters to be educated and find a decent job.
Monalisa’s mother, Shirley Kora, said she never had a chance of going to school.
However, she spent most of her life selling vegetables at the market to support Monalisa.
She said she saved money and gave it to Monalisa when she needed anything.
The family thanked Mineral Resources Development Company and Oil Search for supporting Monalisa in some of her fees.