22 July 2014

Bougainville essay competition winner announced

The Australian High Commission today announced Hutjena Secondary school student Upa Vianney as the winner of an essay competition for Autonomous Region of Bougainville students.

Upa’s essay, ‘Role of youth in promoting economic activities in Bougainville’, looked at how youths can contribute to the economic development of AROB through positive participation in the peace building process, engaging in activities that promote economic growth and living a healthy lifestyle.

The Australian High Commission in cooperation with the Autonomous Bougainville Government ran the essay competition as part of the recent Australia Week activities supporting youth leadership.

“To help develop our economy, we, the young people need to first understand the economic development happening and participate in promoting and finding ways which will make our economy grow. Young people need to participate in democratic and development processes and play active roles in peace building.” Upa said in his essay.

The Australian High Commission’s Counsellor, Bougainville, Jane Gresham, presented the first prize, a laptop computer, to Upa and thanked the Autonomous Bougainville Government for assisting with the delivery of the competition. The second and third place winners, Ida Dissing of Bishop Wade technical secondary and Thelma Sae of Hutjena Secondary School receive dictionary sets.

Almost 30 students entered the competition, writing on the topic “What role can young people play in the economic development of AROB? How can the choices you make about your life make a difference in promoting economic and social development?”

Mr Takali, the Principal of Hutjena Secondary High School thanked the Australian High Commission for arranging the competition and said that it had motivated the students to think about what roles young people can play in Bougainville’s future, as well as helping to strengthen their writing skills”