Nadesalingam Foundation for Education (NFFE) – Empowering Education, Transforming Lives

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Bougainville Scholarship

Empowering Young Women from Bougainville Through Higher Education

Overview

The Bougainville Scholarship, launched by the Nadesalingam Foundation for Education with IBSUniversity, offers full university scholarships to high-achieving young women from Bougainville. Aimed at overcoming the region’s post-conflict educational barriers, it reflects Sir Mick Nades’ commitment to equal opportunities for girls in Papua New Guinea.

Why This Scholarship Matters

The Bougainville Scholarship, inspired by Sir Mick Nades’ personal connection and empathy for the region’s conflict-affected communities, aims to restore educational opportunities for young women. Born from the devastation of the 1988–1998 civil conflict, it stands as a symbol of hope, inclusion, and the belief that every girl deserves the chance to learn and thrive.

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How the Scholarship Works

The Bougainville Scholarship is a full-fee waiver program targeting top-performing Grade 12 girls from six selected secondary schools in Bougainville. Five scholarships are available for the 2026 academic year at IBSUniversity, covering four years of study in a business-related bachelor’s degree program.

Failure to meet academic requirements will result in a subject fee penalty (PGK 2,200 per failed subject) applicable in the following semester.
What the Scholarship Covers:

• 100% Tuition Fees Waived for 4 Years (Valued at PGK 70,400 / PGK 17,600 per year)

Not Covered:

• Travel to and from Port Moresby
• Accommodation costs in Port Moresby (To be managed by families or sponsors)

Eligible Degree Programs:

Bachelor of Accounting & Finance Bachelor of Business & Management Bachelor of Economics & Development Studies Bachelor of Information Technology

Selection Criteria:

Open to Grade 12 girls with the highest GPA averages Must be from one of the selected six secondary schools Must maintain a minimum ‘C’ grade or higher in all university subjects

Partner Schools in Bougainville

We are proud to collaborate with six leading secondary schools to identify deserving candidates:

  1. Arawa Secondary School
  2. Buin Secondary School
  3. Hutjena Secondary School
  4. Tonu Secondary School
  5. St. Mary’s (Asitavi) Secondary School
  6. Bishop Wade (Tarlena) Secondary School

NFFE will work closely with school principals and the Bougainville Department of Education to ensure a fair and transparent selection process.

The Inspiration Behind the Scholarship

Sir Mick Nades has spent decades contributing to the development of Papua New Guinea since his arrival in 1976. From his work in Madang and OK Tedi to founding IBSUniversity, his journey has always been driven by a desire to empower people through knowledge and opportunity.

His visits to Bougainville during a period of great hardship made a lifelong impression on him. He never forgot the pain etched into the lives of the people—especially the children—and vowed that one day he would do something meaningful in return.

This scholarship program is deeply inspired by UNESCO’s message:

“When you educate a girl, you educate a family.”

Sir Mick believes that investing in the education of young women in Bougainville is one of the most powerful ways to create long-term change in both families and communities.

Our Impact and Vision

This is just the beginning. Through the Bougainville Scholarship, NFFE and IBSUniversity aim to build a stronger connection with the people of Bougainville and contribute to nation-building through education, peace, and equity.

We envision a future where more scholarships are introduced, more communities are reached, and more young women rise to become leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers in Bougainville and beyond.

How You Can Support

You can support this life-changing initiative by contributing to NFFE. Your donation can help expand scholarship availability, fund travel and accommodation for students, and create a support network for their success in Port Moresby. Let’s uplift a generation together—one girl, one scholarship, one future at a time.

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