BRINGING THE LSLS INTO THE HIGHLANDS OF PNG Melinda Maro The Young Lasallian Youth Ministry held its first ever Lasallian Student Leadership Seminar in the Highlands region. The Seminar was hosted in Rosary secondary school, Kondiu, Simbu Province, from Monday 11th April to Wednesday 13th April, 2022. Going to the hinter highlands of Papua New Guinea with mixed perception of the highland’s cultural norms, the team had to tread carefully on cultural barriers instilled as early as one’s childhood upbringing, but at the same time, the Lasallian theme of forging new horizons kept the team hopeful and zealous for the seminar
DAY 1 Arriving at Rosary, Kondiu, we were welcomed with great enthusiasm by the Principal, Mr. John Mondo and his staff who were eagerly waiting for the LSLS participants to arrive. After the casual and the all too familiar warm welcome, Br Raffy fsc, who was no stranger to Rosary together with Grace Wrakia, met with the Rosary teachers in the staffroom for a brief but significant in-service on the topic: Characteristics of a Lasallian School. In the meantime, Larry Aua and I met with the Rosary SRC members for a meet and greet program. Shortly after, truck and bus loads of student leaders began arriving. First to arrive were Don Bosco Institute students, followed by Holy Trinity Teachers’ college, and closely behind was Fatima secondary school students who were accompanied by Mr. Francis Apa- a former Lasallian Youth Coordinator. Rosary was very receptive and welcoming to all the schools arriving. After registration and settling everyone in their dorms, the hosting school served a very delicious and nutritious dinner that evening. By 8pm that evening, everyone was ready for the opening ceremony and the seminars’ first presentation on ‘Servant Leadership’ in the school auditorium. The excitement and the anticipation of the seminar was high amongst the student delegates and their accompanying teachers.
DAY 2 Tuesday morning greeted us with the light kiss of the mist on our skin and the clean cold air drifting over the Whagi hills. The day’s activities started off with some ice- breakers followed by a session facilitated by one of the presenters.
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