I have benefited from the scholarship for three years now and it has assisted my parents and I in a big way. This is my final year of studies in the Bachelor of Political Science program and I am working very hard to ensure that I not only pass my exams but graduate and find employment. My aim is to work with communities on the island develop processes that will allow them to better manage themselves and while that may not happen immediately, it is something I would like to do.

“My ultimate aim is to successfully graduate with an Accounting degree. I am currently studying for my Diploma and hope to graduate next year. “This scholarship is highly appreciated. I am privileged to be sponsored by MRLC and will do my very best to ensure that all the help I am getting from the Company is not wasted.” Gerald has set his sights on furthering his education, either here or overseas and knows that what he needs to do now is concentrate on his studies.

Through this scholarship, I have been fortunate enough to pursue a degree in Arts, majoring in Education. Obtaining this degree means a lot to me as with it, I will be the only one in my family to achieve a higher educational qualification. And while that comes with responsibilities, it will enable me to help myself and my family. I would like to return to Lihir and teach after graduating as well as pursue further studies.

“Being a recipient of this scholarship is a privilege. In order for my future ambitions to be achieved, this is where it starts. Placing the first step ahead is the key to completing the whole journey. “From the knowledge I gain at the completion of my finance major, I will be able to live my dreams as well as help my family by providing financial advice on projects they are engaged in and contribute to development on Lihir and PNG. “It is my aim to be able to assist my people prepare themselves for life after mine closure and with this degree of exposure, I am confident I will be able to do that.”

The scholarship has taken the burden of paying school fees away from my parents. With my fees taken care of by the scholarship, my parents now only worry about paying fees for my younger siblings. Being on this scholarship is a real privilege. I am one of a select few who has been chosen and while I am proud of this achievement, I am also mindful of its responsibilities. I know that I need to work extra hard for myself, my family, and my sponsors. I am enrolled in the Diploma in Commerce program and while this course ends this year, I would like to pursue further studies. I know I can do it.

“I would like to be working as a senior Engineer in 10 years time, in charge of either a geothermal power station or a processing plant. “This scholarship is helping me realize these dreams and I am thankful. I was one of the initial beneficiaries of the scheme, when it was launched in 2010. Three years on and I am indebted to the company for believing in me. I am studying for a Degree in Instrumentation and Control Engineering. My career interest is to work in big industries such as mining and energy production where Instrumentation and control engineering encompasses the design, build and management of systems that are used in a range of modern industrial settings.

The financial assistance has been tremendous especially when coming form a family with only one parent. I am studying for a Diploma in Communication for Development. This is my second year. There is the option of continuing onto the degree program and I hope I do well enough to qualify to do that next year. The course I am taking is relevant to the needs of Lihirians. It is designed to assist communities directly affected by major project developments. I am eager to return to the island and hope I can make a difference in the lives of people there.

“I see this opportunity to study abroad as a stepping stone to achieving greater things. Through this scholarship, I am now exposed to the world and the opportunities that are available. “It is also a challenge for me. I need to prioritize my goals, the first; to successfully graduate with my degree. “In ten years time, I hope to be contributing in my capacity as a planner to the development of Lihir and PNG.”

I am a first year student studying for a Diploma in Business, majoring in Management, at the National Polytechnic Institute in Lae, Morobe Province. I am grateful for this privilege and to the company for having confidence in my ability to perform. I will do my utmost best to excel in my respective course. The hopes of my people, my family and my personal goals and aspirations lies on my ability to perform my best and I can not let anyone down.

“Being on the scholarship means a lot to me. This is the beginning of a new chapter in my life in which at present, I have to see the forthcoming challenges and achievements as the end result of the scholarship program offered. “As a recipient, I also have to make use of the resources provided and get the best out of it. I reckon this is the primary objective of MRLC as well. It will be Loise’s “greatest achievement” to one day become a Certified Practicing Accountant and reduce the number of qualified accountants that are coming in from abroad. She knows that with these qualification, she will be able to achieve her goal of leading a business entity either on Lihir or elsewhere in PNG.

The MRLC scholarship is helping me in a big way. Through the scheme, I am able to pursue a tertiary education at the Institute of Business Studies that would otherwise not have been possible. With my fees and other costs paid, money that would have been spent on me is being used to educate my other siblings. At IBS, my academic progress to obtaining a degree in Accounting is very much dependent on me and how serious I am in pursuing this. I hope to one day work as a qualified accountant. Thanks to MRLC, I can see that happening.

“I am working very hard, not only to graduate as a specialist teacher, but to also do well so that I continue to be on the MRLC scholarship. I also want to return to Lihir and teach there and with the exposure and educational I will then have, I know I will be able to do a lot for the school. “It is important to be properly educated as it prepares our generation and those after us for life after mine closure and I am thankful for the MRLC scholarship for doing that. Pauline is studying for a Bachelor in Education Degree at the University of Goroka. She wants to specialize in Accounting and teach on Lihir after the completion of the five year program.

This is my final year in the Diploma in Primary School teaching program at Kaindi Teachers’ College and I am planning to return to Lihir to teach after graduating. I am aware of the huge role I play as an educator, especially that of young children. I know I can assist them either become successful in life or otherwise. Thanks to the scholarship, I will now be able to successfully graduate and look forward to greater things in life.

“After this four year program, I will be graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Sustainable in Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, all thanks to the financial assistance of MRLC. “As a young Lihirian, this opportunity to further my studies is Godsend and I will do my utmost best to ensure that I successfully graduate. “I would like to help support my family, the people of Lihir and PNG, with the knowledge, skills and experience I gain after this program.”

“After this four year program, I will be graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Sustainable in Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, all thanks to the financial assistance of MRLC. “As a young Lihirian, this opportunity to further my studies is Godsend and I will do my utmost best to ensure that I successfully graduate. “I would like to help support my family, the people of Lihir and PNG, with the knowledge, skills and experience I gain after this program.”

I have chosen the course Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Accounting with a dream to pursue a career in Accounting and Finance. I understand it will take a lot of personal sacrifice and hard work if I am to achieve my dreams but I am determined to do that. For me, being on the scholarship and being given the opportunity to study in Australia is a privilege and I can’t thank the company enough. I am here and I am prepared to do my best.

I’ve always been interested in so many different things, and making a choice to study a double degree in Commerce and International Business was a challenging decision for me. I however know that studying these two degrees will benefit me later in life as I will be able to understand the world economy much better and keep up with the rapidly changing economy and labour markets. My family and I are more than grateful for this opportunity, to be able to study with ease, without worrying about the financial side of things. MRL has given me the flexibility to fully immerse myself into University life and concentrate on study. I find that with this scholarship, I am able to do more than enough to complement my studies while I am still studying.

With all the support I am currently receiving from MRL, I plan to give back to the Lihir community in the future by improving school facilities (build better library systems for students, implement a better curriculum that will enable students to continue studies without the need to repeat or drop out etc.). I would also like to educate them on the vast opportunities there are in the world, to be able to see that they can be a part of a greater future. In saying this, introducing tourism in Lihir is what I strongly believe would be a starting point for local economic prosperity, and also for the villages to embrace and show the outside world our culture.

I’ve always wanted to pursue a carrier within the engineering discipline and through the MRL Capital scholarship; I have been able to achieve my dream. I really appreciate the financial support and would like to thank the company for the privilege given to me which have brought me this far. From the knowledge and skills gain from this program, I will be able to contribute to the development on Lihir and PNG, by engaging in projects such as, the development of sustainable and appropriate technology solutions to meet the basic needs of human for Water, Sanitation, Health, and Energy, as well as to protect cultural and natural diversity.

There are lots of issues that are happening around the globe and Lihir Island is one of the islands that have been affected in term of environmental degradation, rising sea level, possibility of species extinction, climate change, and loss of cultural values.

The island lack environmental management programs that can help sustain land resources economically now and in the future.

I appreciated the opportunity of being placed under MRL Capital Scholarship scheme to further my studies. Therefore when I finish my studies here and graduate as an Environmental Engineer, with my acquired skills, I would go back home and help develop, improve and implement programs that would help sustain the Lihirian economy now and in the future.

Before applying for the program which I’m currently studying, I at first consider my passion and this has to do with dealing with the environment and the people that lives in it and ensure that both are of better positions for development/economical purposes and most of all, from the fact that Lihir Island has got a mine on its own. This then motivated me to choose Associate Degree in Mining engineering which of course covered most of the engineering field.

MRL Scholarship has played a very major role in my life. Since I was selected as an MRL awardee, I haven’t encountered any problems especially financial problems. I’m so thankful for that. After the completion of my courses, I want to apply back home and work in the mine as either a mining engineer or any vacant positions in any field to start off with. I may not contribute a lot at first but I believe that the little that I’m capable of doing which is of my interests will definitely help with the development of the island in one way or the other.

Being with the Lihir Mining Area Landowner Association (LMALA) as an executive and helping out my LLG in community activities has inspired me to take up this program to better serve the people with the knowledge and skills acquired. Sponsored by MRL is a privileged as well a blessing and will be forever grateful to the people of Lihir. The opportunity for being part of the Lihir Destiny strategical plan in being self-reliant and financially independent is awesome and adds value to this program and determination to succeed. Since I am already serving the people my intentions is to be fully involved and contribute 100% after completion of my studies. As one of the executives of the Lihir Rugby Football League I believe my journey has just begun in service to the people of Lihir and will support Lihir achieve its destiny.

First of all, I come from both Masahet and Mahur Island. Since I was a child, I have seen projects that were initiated in the communities normally fail and not serving its purpose.

As an engineer, I was inspired that having a qualification in Project Management and combining it with my engineering skills would greatly help in addressing the issue of project failure in my community.
Also in the coming years, there will be a need for life improvement projects in my community. Therefore having someone in the community with the project management qualification and skills would really assist.

As a Lihirian, MRLC scholarship is like an investment the people of Lihir have invested in me and my family. As a student under this scholarship, I had to ensure I successfully complete my studies and see myself adding value to the investment by helping my Lihir community in terms of managing community projects.

I am always fascinated with how agriculture crops are grown. Since new introduced technologies and improvement of agriculture, I firmly believe I can make a difference, by introducing new improved methods which can assist our people and help them understand the difference between organic and chemical.

My Family and I were grateful, for MRL’s sponsorship. Gold mining will eventually end, by studying this course, in terms of food production and research; I strongly feel that I can give more to the people of Lihir, by helping them in ways that they can grow their own food produce and cash crops organically.

Having had the opportunity to work with various technologies, applications and communication equipment with my former employer (Newcrest Mining Limited), I learnt that my strength was around server administration and networking. However, taking up this course was the best choice I ever made in my life as it will advance my career path development.

As a recipient of this scholarship, I am honoured and privileged and as a result of MRL investment, I as a female Lihirian plan to influence other Lihirians in small ways such education awareness programs about the opportunity MRL offers. I would love to provide tutorial if opportunities arise. Teaching computing in primary school may probably a subject to push for to be included in the education curriculum. I would also want to continue my technical support to small businesses in town as what I used to prior to commencing studies. All this doesn’t happen overnight. It all needs the correct team to dream it, drive it, implement it and sustain it.

I grew up in a community where one of the everyday needs of people is basically health care. I knew how it is like to be in the village and the struggles faced each day. This motivated me to choose a career that help save lives and help people have basic knowledge of health related problems that can be prevented.

I am so fortunate to be one of the MRL Scholarship recipients. I really appreciate the financial assistance towards my studies. The MRL Scholarship is a blessing to my family and I.

To my knowledge, the hospital Lihir Medical Centre (ISOS) at Marahun on Lihir Island provides health care services for the majority of Lihirians both employed and unemployed individuals and this hospital will close when the mine shuts down.

For better and effective health care services for the Lihirians, we need improvement of local health facilities and most of all, human resources. As a health care professional, I would like to dedicate my time and service to others. I hope to gain as much knowledge and skills and be able to help my family, community and Lihir Island as a whole.

I always love business and enjoy working with people so I consider this was the main reason that motivated me into perusing the course Business Management. I believe it will also assist me in acquiring necessary skills to fulfil my ambitions. This course also provides better career opportunities hence I consider this as another factor that motivated me into taking this course.

MRL Scholarship means a lot to me and my family. It has really assisted reducing the burdens that my parents had encountered for 3 years. Although its only 4 months being under this scholarship, I consider that the benefits are really great and it has helped me a lot. I recommend this scholarship to be the best of the best.

Finally, I have seen that there is a lot of opportunity for my people on Lihir Island to start small business and become entrepreneurs but the only thing lacking is the potency to drive them into becoming one. One of these forces is knowledge on how to start business and run small businesses. So if, I graduate next year, I am willing to freely help them if they have the heart and willingness to become entrepreneurs. I can assist by giving free advice and also conduct short courses on Entrepreneurship.

To be a teacher or study education was my childhood dream. When growing up I realise the need to help improve the human resource of Lihir. To help the new generation understand the importance and purpose of education and its future impacts in their life and family as a whole. Their success in education can be a benefit which may lead to better management and development on the current mining industry or other fields of studies which will lead to improvement in the living standard and better services to all Lihirians.

First of all it is of great pleasure and thankful to be part of the MRL Capital scholarship. The scholarship was a great help and supported to me as a student due to financials side. The current help the MRL gave has been a great benefit not only to me but my entire family. I am grateful and appreciate MRL for the support given.

Firstly I want to go back and teach at Lihir Secondary School and New Ireland. I also want help people trying to organize other programs that will allow those students who drop out of the government education system to further their education or studies. In which it will educate students to become good leaders of Lihir and Papua New Guinea as a whole.

My inspiration for taking the program which I am currently studying is my family. Ever since I was a small girl I have seen how my parents would struggle taking my siblings and I including them to the hospital and were given poor treatment by nurses and sometimes doctors. Not only was my family treated that way but also others. And with that it has inspired me to take up this course so I can help not only my family but the people of Lihir also and the country as a whole.

This sponsorship means so much to my family and I and I am thankful for having the opportunity to study under this sponsorship. Of course after I have finished the course I am currently taking I will go back to Lihir to serve and help my people.

I am a teacher by profession with diploma in primary teaching; I decided to further my qualification in order to help my people in Lihir to be educated and more reliable citizens of PNG.

I am indebted to MRL for the assistance in sponsoring me to further my studies, MRL financial aid in terms of offering scholarship has been greatly appreciated by my family. I want to assure that MRL assistance in scholarship will be of great benefit to the children of Lihir especially in primary education.

I may be assigned in other schools outside of Lihir to teach however I am still heading back to Lihir Island to serve my people. I would like to sincerely extend my gratitude to those who have assisted me in one way or other to come this far as I’m on the verge of completing my studies and will be graduating next year 2019. I’m thankful to Aileen and the scholarship team for your generous support and only God may continue to bless you all and the MRL Management for the continuous effort in assisting us.

Actually to be a teacher was an innate calling to me at a young age. I never wanted to be a teacher not until 2014, we were given an assignment to write an essay on the topic “Who is a Teacher”. I then discovered that teachers are Nation Builders, the inspiration of other professions, and the key player of every profession in the country. It was through that essay that inspired me to take up education.

Financially this sponsorship has assisted my family and that means a lot to us in order to give back I would invest in the Human Resource by educating Lihirian students after completion of my studies.

Being a health worker is what inspired me take up this course. I hope that this course will eventually assist me in applying for medical schools.

MRL scholarship helps a lot because it offers a complete scholarship package to its students and also reduces financial burden from families. This scholarship provides excellent help to students.

I believe that more health awareness should be initiated for the benefit for our people on the Island of Lihir.

Health issues on the Island are on the rise and our people have to be properly educated on how to take good care of themselves. I believe Health is really important It’s not just physical health but also mental health and social health. If a person is healthy in all these aspects, then he/she can make better decision on his/her life.

Technology itself has inspired me to take up this course, we are in the 21st century and today everything is about technology. It’s seen in almost every aspect of modern life. I enjoy technology and specifically keeping up with the latest advances in the field of information technology. Today, information is paramount and information technology (IT) influences all kinds of human activity. Benefits of technology include increased productivity in many work-related and personal tasks.

Information technology jobs fall within the full spectrum of computer technology and business. As an IT professional, I’ll be supporting clients in reaching their goals and nurturing their corporate culture. Businesses rely on information technology to help them be more productive. This is a career that benefits any business by allowing companies to work more efficiently and to maximise productivity. And with that come faster communication, electronic storage and the protection of important documentation.

It is quite expensive to study abroad, even with the right mindset; we must vouch to be financially secured to study abroad, what CSO Scholarship has done, with providing me full funding has brought great joy in me, my family and my clan and the people of our beloved Lihir Island.

My aim back then was to become a teacher. I love being a teacher because I would be able to give what I know to others and that is through teaching. Teaching is a profession in which most people overlook without realising that it is the only root of all other professions. Teaching is also enjoyable where you will be able to see different places and interact with different cultures. These are the reasons why I prefer teaching. I also realised that many Lihirians are working in the mining and only few people have gone ahead and become doctors, nurses, teachers and other professions that are required by the government or I should say people who are public servants, to serve the country.

The sponsor has helped my parents, relatives and those who have financially helped me in my first year of study. I have everything I need in terms of stationaries and other things that are mostly needed in my study. Upon graduating from The University of Goroka, I would like to go back to Lihir and teach there. I will try my very best to influence my students, especially Lihirians to work as hard as they can so that they can be able to serve their own people instead of depending on outsiders. I would also like to serve at Lihir for some years before I can go elsewhere. This will be the best I can do for my people.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank MRL for this initiative in assisting us the students.

From seeing, reading and hearing stories of the most rural area’s people livelihood of PNG, it inspired me to take this program, so I can be in a better position to help in improving their standard of living. Not only in other parts of PNG but also on the island as most Lihirians are subsistence farmers and might need assistance for them to enjoy what they produce.

The scholarship means a lot to me as I may not complete my studies if I only depend on my family. The assistance through this scholarship program has helped my family a lot. We are pleased with the scholarship program and wish it can cover the other Lihir students who are at the moment financially struggling.

I had always dreamt to be an economist since childhood. Things that inspires me are as follow

• The job is demandable
• It’s all about dealing with peoples living standards
• About dealing with the economy and many more

These are some of them that I can think of.

This sponsorship means a lot to me and my family. It helps my parents and at the same time reduces the burdens from them from paying my school fees, pocket money, and many more.

All in all, after graduating with a bachelor degree in this field of study, I will play my part as a leader in my community; I am going to contribute fully to the economy of Lihir Island, New Ireland province and my country PNG. Besides I will work together with my people and stand for their interests and improve the developments and services in my community.

The inspiration to study the current program was mostly self-influence with the aspiration to know how things work. I am privileged to be selected for the scholarship which means a lot to me and family as it provides an opportunity to grasp a life path. I am anticipating in pursuing my current field of study and succeeding at higher level where I can be able to offer service back to Lihir in the future.