Twenty (20) female students from Tokarara Secondary School in the National Capital District proudly graduated from the RISE Empowerment Program after an eight-month journey focused on building personal development, career readiness, and leadership skills.
The program, supported by CPL Foundation Inc. and the Sir Brian Bell Foundation as lead sponsors, guided the mentees through six structured phases designed to strengthen their confidence, self-awareness, and future employability.
Each phase focused on critical areas of growth, including self-leadership, communication, goal setting, career exploration, health and wellbeing, and community impact.
Throughout the program, the mentees participated in workshops, one-on-one mentoring sessions, and interactive projects led by experienced mentors and facilitators.
In one of the sessions, the students were granted a loan from Kina Bank that enabled them to run a profitable start-up while teaching the importance of financial literacy and small business management to their peers.
Through this initiative, the mentees applied practical budgeting and entrepreneurship skills learned during the RISE program, successfully managing their finances, marketing their services, and generating revenue by hands-on experience that reinforced the value of discipline, teamwork, and innovation in business.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Sir Mahesh Patel OBE, Chairman of CPL Foundation Inc., congratulated all the mentees and commended their dedication throughout the program.
He said, “RISE is not just a program, it is a movement that reflects the core values of CPL Foundation Inc. It focuses on building confidence, practical skills, and holistic wellness for young women the very pillars that we at CPL Foundation believe are essential for lasting empowerment. Supporting RISE was a natural extension of that belief, to nurture future leaders who will drive Papua New Guinea forward.”
Speaking on behalf of the Sir Brian Bell Foundation, CEO Bronwyn Wright thanked everyone involved, especially the team behind the RISE Program.
She shared that the Foundation was proud to be part of such an impactful initiative, noting that “magic truly happens when women come together to learn, to lead, and to lift each other up.”
The RISE team shared their plans to expand the program by increasing the number of participants and extending its reach into the regions.
They also expressed heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors and supporters, acknowledging the unique contributions each made in turning this pilot program into a success.
