Sone’s willpower overcomes obstacles

By SONYA KILAGI
CELVINA Sone overcame more than her quota of obstacles before normal living came her way.
She lost her mum, became pregnant to an abusive partner while at business school and lived with her father who was unemployed.
“We can have hope but if we don’t have the willpower, hope will just be a dream,” she says.
Celvina hails from Hela and comes from a family of five. She is the third child of Michel Sone and the Rita Wabiria and became the family’s breadwinner as she gained some education.
Life was tough.
“My mother’s younger sister was kind enough to take care of all of us, pay our rent and attend to our basic needs.
“Because of my situation (pregnancy at Port Moresby Business College) my family had stopped supporting me financially in school. I got through with the help of my friends who would assist me with bus fares to take me back and forth from school.”
Celvina was told that she could not sit for the final year examinations due to outstanding fees.
“I had no choice but to beg the head of department for a chance to sit for the exams and pay on installments later. I was given a chance by God’s mercy and grace.”
Before that, Celvina had sent a text message to a relative to assist her with the payments.
“Minutes after I walked out of the admin building, I saw them (relatives) waving to me, I knew they had come to assist me with the payments.”
Celvina graduated with a Diploma in Business Management in 2021.
“I wasn’t proud of the decision I had made but I had finally graduated.”
Considering Celvina’s father’s situation, she had to assume the responsibilities to take care of her family.
Celvina said her elder siblings could not help her situation in any way as none of them were able to complete school.
My younger siblings’ school fees are now taken care by me, the others help with the chores at home.”
Celvina was job hunting soon after graduating but without much luck. She didn’t give up though.

“ We can have hope but if we don’t have the willpower, your hope will just be a dream.

She took advantage of social media and began searching for voluntary work, “or any job to put food on the table for my family”.
“I saw the Seinisim PNG page on Facebook, at that time I was looking for any job or an activity to keep myself going for my family. I sent messages through Facebook but no response, so I did my own research, found out everything there was to know about the organisation.
Celvina and her father joined the programme last October.
Senisim PNG is a partnership programme carried out by John Maxwell Leadership Foundation and PNG Tribal Foundation.
“We came in for the first round-table discussion on the value of hope. After attending the first session, I’ve flashed back to the situations I was in and realised that hope had brought me through. I believe it was the same for my father.
“After the session, I asked the facilitator if there was any voluntary work that I was able to do. The facilitator promised to drop her application in case there were jobs available.
Celvina joined the voluntary work hosted by PNGTF to launch Senisim PNG last year.
“I was the first person to raise my hand. We were told that the event was a great opportunity for us as there would be people coming from all over the world, so I did my best.”
Celvina also looked for other jobs online.
“After two weeks of my job-seeking posts on LinkedIn, the chief executive officer of American Cultural Exchange Leadership Programme with Alpha Omega Leadership Company in Midland, Texas commented and asked if I was interested to attend the programme. I had to check with PNGTF to ensure the user was genuine. I was the pioneer of the programme.
“It was a miracle from God, that’s how I can put the whole situation.”
Celvina had the opportunity to create international contact and have experience with leadership programmes.
She is currently employed by PNGTF as a receptionist, and is also engaged with sideline jobs to support her family.
“We can have hope but if we don’t have the willpower, your hope will just be a dream.
“My life was complicated. I should have given up but I had hope. I always reminded myself that after every tunnel, there is light.”