Representatives of the BYU-Pathway Worldwide education program came to Papua New Guinea on 20-21 July to help young adults in PNG further their education. The response was remarkable.
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Young Adults from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, filled one of the city's chapels to learn about how they could further their education through BYU-Pathway.© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.In the Papua New Guinea capital of Port Moresby, more than two hundred prospective students came to a Sunday afternoon devotional to learn how BYU-Pathway could help them reach their career and education goals, while helping to build their testimonies of the Saviour.
One day earlier, about three hundred prospective students attended a similar devotional in the northern PNG city of Madang.
BYU-Pathway Worldwide President Brian K. Ashton, accompanied by his wife Melinda, spoke at the two devotionals. Accompanying the Ashtons were BYU-Pathway Vice President of Advancement Matt Eyring and his wife Amy, and BYU-Hawaii Student Life Vice President Jonathan Kau with his wife Jazzeth.
At the devotionals, young adults learned how BYU-Pathway could help them earn college credits and degrees at prices scaled to the local economy, giving students the chance to achieve a level of education that would otherwise be unattainable.
Prospective students were given information on how to utilise the Church’s “EnglishConnect” program to build English literacy. They also received help in registering for BYU-Pathway, instructions for obtaining a laptop for use during their Pathway enrolment, and job counselling for prospective students facing the challenge of juggling work with university studies.
One prospective student, Kila Aora, has a husband and three children. She wants to contribute more to her family. “This is a program that can help me achieve my dreams for my family and for myself,” she said. “I am so thankful for it.”
During the devotional, President Ashton said he believes BYU-Pathway will be a blessing to Papua New Guinea students and is a partial fulfilment of 2 Nephi 10:21 in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, where Jacob reminded his brethren that “great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea.”
Church Education Specialist (Pacific Area), Dean Westerlund, attended both devotionals. He said there was great interest among many attendees in applying for remote jobs while they are completing their BYU-Pathway courses.
“BYU-Pathway can point students to remote job opportunities to help with living costs while they are studying,” Westerlund said.
“They have up to 450 remote data entry and customer service job opportunities available right now for students who are doing BYU-Pathway and have English competency. As they progress through their studies, they will be able to apply for more complex and better paying jobs.”
Over 70,000 students in 180 countries are currently enrolled in BYU-Pathway courses.