Scholars happy with support

Education

THE Institute of Business Studies (IBS) and Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) PNG have announced the two winners of the IBS founder’s scholarship degree programme.
Winners Maureen Kuna, 21, from Southern Highlands, and Joanne Konaka, 26, from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (Arob), were announced last Wednesday.
Kuna enrolled for the bachelor of accounting and finance programme on March 23, and Konaka enrolled for the bachelor of information technology on March 17, at the IBS University campus at 11-Mile.
Kuna and Konaka said they had settled into their studies well and expressed their gratitude to IBS founder Sir Mick Nades and MPIP PNG for the joint effort in empowering young women through education.
“We could not further our education because of financial difficulties and we truly appreciate these scholarships which will now allow us to fulfill our dreams,” they said.
Kuna said: “Education is everything to me, my freedom, my voice and my salvation to set me straight on my path to being an independent woman.
“Moreover, in the future, I see myself as an accountant working in the corporate world with a good firm.
“My personal goal in the future, is to own a business that will make a difference in my society.”
But for Kuna, this vision has not come without its disappointments.
She was born into a large family with eight siblings and moved with her family from Mendi to Port Moresby in 2013.
“In the same year, the bank took over our only property, due to a loan dad had with Bank South Pacific,” she said.
“The bank had to sell the property to recoup their part of the finance.
“Life after that was hard living with relatives at Morata.”
After completing grade 12 at St Charles Lwanga Secondary in 2018, Kuna did not get an offer from a college or university that she had applied to.
“It was devastating for me,” Kuna said.
“So, in the following year, 2019, I returned to my village to help mum and dad sell coffee.
“Working on the farm is very laborious work.
“I cried sometimes, but I got used to it.
“From the little I saved from selling coffee, I came back to Port Moresby in mid-last year to pursue my dream of further education.”
Last year, she was selected to do a bachelor of economics and development studies at IBS, but due to financial problems, she could not pursue it.
“Instead, I decided to take up certificate four in accounting at IBS college of Tvet (technical and vocational education and training) (6-Mile campus) and completed it.
“This made me eligible to continue at IBSU studying for a bachelor of accounting and finance degree.
“But once again, I had financial difficulties.
“The MPIP PNG/Sir Mick Nades scholarship is an opportunity that can assist me to fulfil my dreams to complete a degree programme.
“I am very grateful that my application was successful and this will enable me to pursue a career as an accountant,” Kuna said.
Konaka, on the other hand, said her wish was to complete her information technology (IT) studies and work on her island home of Bougainville.
“I am passionate about developing Bougainville in regards to IT,” she said.
“Bougainville is at the crossroads of becoming independent and will need qualified individuals to contribute to developing the province and I believe this the starting point for me.
“I want to assist my community to access information through internet in both urban and rural areas.
“It is through the internet that we can raise the bar of education statistics in provinces such as Bougainville, because information is in the palm of our hands.
“Education is an essential tool to empower young women.
“From the moment I sat in a classroom, I knew that it was important to learn.
“These days, it is only through education that we secure a job or communicate effectively with others.
“Unfortunately, the opportunity I had was taken lightly.
“I was lost in my life decisions.
“However, these setbacks meant I became more resilient.
“Through the constant support from family and friends, I am now determined to go back to school.
“I am now persistent and focused in my desire to learn and be a role model for young girls in Bougainville.”
Konaka said women tended to feel the brunt of trying to source school fees to complete their education whilst at the same time, meeting family obligations.
“Fees are costly to meet, therefore, education is not completed,” she said.
“This scholarship is a great window of opportunity for women like me. I believe that, I, with other women, can work towards contributing to the growth and welfare of our country, if given the opportunity to complete our education.”