KTF awards first ever PhD Scholarship

POSTED ON 09 June 2010

The Kokoda Track Foundation is proud to announce its very first PhD Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel scholarship holder: Madeline Lemeki. Madeline is a mother of two boys and prior to beginning her PhD studies in Australia was working for a not-for-profit organisation in Papua New Guinea in the field of health research. This year, Madeline was accepted into the PhD program at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

Madeline’s PhD topic is “Evaluation of HIV prevention programs in PNG” and after the successful completion of her studies she will graduate as a Doctor of Philosophy majoring in Public Health”. After her PhD she wishes to return to PNG and work for government agencies in the area of health research, particularly evaluating health programs that develop policies on AIDS prevention. She says she wants to use her skills for this worthy and deserving cause and this way is able to give back to her country.

The Foundation is supporting Madeline with a partial scholarship so that she can undertake her doctoral studies in Australia. Our scholarship will assist Madeline with her living expenses in Australia whilst she undertakes her doctoral studies. We are delighted that funds raised are going to supporting such an inspirational and committed student. Madeline is the only female from the Kokoda region to have ever reached this level of education and she strives to be a good role model and leader for other young females in the Kokoda area.

Growing up in the eighties, Madeline went to Kokoda Primary School. At that time the Kokoda Track Foundation didn’t exist otherwise we are sure that she would have been one of our primary school scholarship holders! She was always the top student in her class.
Her mother, who was a nurse, managed to pay for her children’s school fees during primary school; however her 2 brothers didn’t have Madeline’s persistence and dropped out of school by Grade 6.

After primary school, Madeline went to an Anglican school to finish her secondary education. She was a boarding student in another province in PNG during this time.
If she wanted to come home for the holidays, she had to travel by boat or plane to get home.
In national high school she had to work really hard to stay on top. “Suddenly I was in a class with very bright students from all around the country so I had to work extra hard academically” says Madeline.

Madeline is very grateful to the Foundation for her scholarship and also thinks it is great that the Foundation is helping out so many children in PNG via its Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel Scholarships. She has one piece of advice to offer them:

“I remember going to Kokoda Primary school through bush tracks in the rain and thick mud with no umbrella or shoes. You need persistence and consistency, go through the challenges, you may not see the bigger picture right now but push on and you will see that education is worth it at the end of your schooling journey. And never be complacent: Only hard work will get you where you want to go.”

We wish Madeline all the best with her PhD and will keep the friends of KTF up to date on her progress... we are looking forward to the day to have our first Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel Doctor!