Winners Announced: ‘PNG-Australia Bung Wantaim-Yumi Poroman’ essay competition

 

The Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s ‘PNG-Australia Bung Wantaim-Yumi Poroman’ essay competition for schools in the National Capital District.

 

Jeffrey Odongo, a Grade 10 student from St Joseph’s International Catholic College, is the recipient of a palm top computer, for his winning essay entitled ‘How can individuals use small-scale agriculture to improve living standards for themselves and their community’.

 

Jeffrey received his prize last week from the Deputy Australian High Commissioner Ms Bronte Moules, at a presentation ceremony at the St Joseph’s International Catholic College in Port Moresby.

 

Jeffrey’s essay discusses how local food production strengthens local economies by protecting small farms, local jobs and local shops, thereby increasing food security.

 

Jeffrey writes: “By selling directly to consumers, small-scale producers acquire the full value of their products, increasing profits which can then go towards improving living standards.”

 

Joachkem Asinimbu from De La Salle Secondary School received the second prize, with third place shared between Aashritha Arun from St Joseph’s International Catholic College and Sarea Epavea from Marianville Secondary School.

 

More than 150 entries were submitted by school students from the National Capital District and judged by a panel from the Australian High Commission and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

 

The essay competition, sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, is part of the annual PNG-Australia Bung Wantaim-Yumi Poroman series of events, hosted by the Australian High Commission to highlight the connections between Papua New Guineans and Australians across a range of activities including music, sports, entertainment and education.