Four graduate in US under Yer Foundation

Four Papua New Guinean students have graduated from a tertiary institution in the United States under the sponsorship of the Yer Foundation.

The pioneer batch graduated from the Southern Maine Community College [SMCC] last Sunday, marking a proud achievement for the local charity program.

The graduates and their respective fields of study are David Wasun [Radiation Therapy], Dickson Paki [Health Management], Lilian Simon and Joyce Pindipia [Health Management and Nursing].

Foundation founder Jackson Yer said the program was established to provide equal opportunities for young citizens.

"Securing a tertiary institution outside of the country is not only for the fortunate students," Yer said. "The less privileged ones can be given a second chance to further their studies if they match all requirements of the Yer Foundation.

"One of the ways that I can help as a concerned citizen of the country is to provide a second chance in education to the US for the less fortunate students to further their studies."

Mr Yer, an educationist and Papua New Guinean elite based in Maine, USA, launched the foundation in Mendi, Southern Highlands, in 2018.

He praised the graduates for representing PNG with dignity and excellence abroad, stating that they also worked part-time on campus to sustain themselves.

"We are confident that the knowledge, skills, and exposure they have gained will enable them to contribute positively to the development of our beloved country," he said. "They are not just degree holders, they are nation builders in the making."