Siblings learn about Russia

EDUCATION

By SYLVIA PERSATA
UPNG Journalism student
A SET of siblings with a shared interest hopes to one day study at Russia’s Emperor Alexander I Saint Petersburg State Transport University.
Irago William,14 and his sisters Elizabeth, 13, and Juliette, 11, from a mixed parentage of Central and Milne Bay, were awarded with certificates after completing a course in Russian language and culture at the National Library and Archives in Waigani.
Russian ambassador to Indonesia (and concurrently to Kiribati, Timor-Leste and PNG) Lyudmila Vorobyeva, and director and founder of the Miklouho Maclay Foundation Miklouho-Maklay Jr presented the certificates to the three students last week during the opening of the Russian Centre at the National Library and Archives.
The trio who attend Wardstrip Primary School had sacrificed and committed their free time attending afternoon classes to learn the Russian language and culture at the National Library and Archives.
Irago is in grade seven, Elizabeth in grade six and Juliette in grade five. Besides their normal classes they had managed to complete their course successfully. Their classes ran from 10am to 4pm daily and they also learnt and participated in online lessons with other children in Russia.
This programme was fully funded by the Miklouho Maclay Foundation in cooperation with the Russian Culture Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
The main purpose of the course is to promote the Russian language and culture in Papua New Guinea.
This makes it possible to preserve the achievements of Russian pioneers, scientists, diplomats, public figures and of course, contributes to the development of bilateral relations between Russia and PNG in all areas, including the economic sphere.
Educating Papua New Guineans will actually brings back the Russian presence in Papua New Guinea.
The programme has educated different classes of Papua New Guineans over time. The William trio were the only primary school student students who have attended the course.
Elizabeth said she was proud she learnt some basic Russia and few aspects of the culture.
Juliette said it was more like what they learnt in class at Wardstrip but more fun learning something new every day.
Irago expressed that learning about Russia was one of the best things for him and he would treasure it into the future.
“Russia is a very big country and coming to learn about its language, cultural diversity was something very special and interesting to me.

“We also learnt about bilateral relationship between Russuan and PNG that was established about 150 years ago, that started with the mission of the great Russian scientist, humanist and traveler Nikolay Nikolaevich Miklouho-Maclay, who in 1871 became the first European to land in the northeastern part of New Guinea.

“Apart from studying Russian language we were also taught about history, climate and their lifestyle,” he said.
The siblings were given cultural and educational lectures about Great Russia that provided an in-depth knowledge, which is based on the thousand-year-old-history of morality, honouring and preservation of the memories of older generations, as well as love for the world.
Juliette said one of the most interesting things she learnt was how the Miklouho Maclay Foundation came to be.
“We also learnt about bilateral relationship between Russuan and PNG that was established about 150 years ago, that started with the mission of the great Russian scientist, humanist and traveler Nikolay Nikolaevich Miklouho-Maclay, who in 1871 became the first European to land in the northeastern part of New Guinea.
“We were privileged to learn about his settlements in Maclay Coast in Madang for two and half years which is a very interesting story many Papua New Guineans don’t know about,” she said.

The children’s father William Tom from Saroa Village, Rigo in Central said he had almost given up transporting them back and forth from attending this programme but they were passionate about their learning.
“They have shown me how important it is to push them to achieve whatever dreams they are interested in.
“As for me it was a coincidence, I did not have any intention in bringing them to attend Russian courses but it all happened when I dropped them off at the library to borrow books for reading.”
After learning about the programme he urged the children to attend courses because it was a rare opportunity that presents itself once in a while.
“I am very proud that they had received certificates and also they are the pioneer students to graduate from the Miklouho-Maclay Foundation,” he said.
He said the most interesting thing that excited him about this programme was his children obtaining certificates from another country.
“I am happy because their certificates come from the Emperor Alexander I Saint Petersburg State Transport University in Russia and their achievement has already bridged them with that university.
“Many parents want to send their children to study in America and Australia due to language reasons, however such opportunities like these are rare and we really need to have a closer look at them.
“Also we should know that Miklouho-Maclay Foundation wants to acquaint the citizens of PNG with the Russian traditions, arts as well as elements of the material culture.
“This is a great opportunity for particularly students and they should take this initiative and learn as much as they can.”
Elizabeth wants to become a human rights lawyer while Irago and Juliette want be economists.
Their ultimate goal however, is to one day graduate from Emperor Alexander I Saint Petersburg State Transport University in Russia.
The siblings are looking forward to an advanced course after the basics in Russian language and culture.
And that will be another step closer to reaslising their shared dream.