Securing a sponsorship

Securing a good sponsorship is really difficult these days for students and the like who wish to pursue studies overseas or in Papua New Guinea. I got countless emails from students and others seeking sponsorship from sources in the United States.

Some of these students got acceptance letters from various universities and colleges in the United States and they really needed a good sponsor that can help them with their studies. I know myself before coming to the United States that their hopes are high that they will one day make it to the United States or other institutions worldwide to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.

Southern Highlands students of Kaugere Primary School, Port Moresby, N.C.D. joined students from other provinces to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary. Is the government of PNG doing something or enough to cater for these students and others in terms of employment and study opportunities at home and aboard?

The cost of attending school varies from country to country but in the United States alone is very difficult because it is very expensive. Costs from universities to colleges here can range from $25,000 - $50,000 or more depending on what kind of college or university you plan to enrol. For this motive, students come from poor family backgrounds (myself included) find it difficult to sponsor themselves when they get an acceptance letter from overseas universities or colleges to study.

In such scenario, these students need to find a good sponsor to sponsor them. Unfortunately, the government of Papua New Guinea doesn't have a coordinated sponsorship package in place for such students who are keen to pursue studies overseas in the field of their interest.

I don't know that such sponsorships exist in PNG but if they do, I believe that it is wantokism, nepotism, bribery, etc... are involved in the selection process and potential well qualified students are left out, especially those that come from disfranchised families with no connection to anyone in government or one holding public office for that matter. (In other words, it's not what you know but it's whom you know, these days in PNG; and this is a very dangerous trend in PNG at this point in time). I hate to say this but, that is the reality now in PNG.

If you got an acceptance letter from the colleges and the universities in the United States, my advice is; ask them to defer your enrollment date and indicate to them about your financial constraints if you can't make it on the enrollment date mentioned on your application. People in these schools understand us well and they will keep your files active whenever you find a sponsor to enrol again.

Elsie Keln 12 (left) and Joyce Wilfred 12 are both Grade 6 pupils of Kaugere Primary School. They joined other students from the Southern Highlands Province to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary. Both Keln and Wilfred and others are optimistic that their government (PNG) will provide avenues for them to find a decent job as well as enhancing their dreams of possible further studies after leaving the formal education system in PNG.

Therefore, I encourage these possible students not to give up hope and continue to write to seek sponsorship. It took me six years to find a good sponsor because I never gave up hope. Never give up hope. Having hope and staying focused on what you want to do in life is another. If you don't have hope, you'll never make it.

I hope to meet lots of PNGeans here in the States and continue to put tireless efforts to encourage students from PNG to take up studies here. If you need more information and if I can be of help to you, don't hesitate to write to me. I will share some of the students' emails I got seeking sponsorship with you later. All the Best; Remember! DON'T GIVE UP HOPE :)