The 41st anniversary of the National Parliament House in Port Moresby this week was marked with a powerful display of student creativity during the Grade 11 National Essay and Poetry Competition, held in commemoration of Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Anniversary. A total of 24 finalists, six from each region, were selected through a rigorous three-stage process that began at the school level and concluded with regional shortlists. Finalists were brought into Port Moresby on an all-expenses-paid trip to take part in a week-long national program, culminating in the final presentation on Thursday, August 7. The central theme of the competition was “PNG is celebrating 50 years of independence. What does independence mean to you and how do you envision PNG in 50 years' time?” In the Essay category, Charlie Isari, a Grade 11 science student from St. Charles Lwanga Secondary School representing the Southern Region, claimed first place for his thoughtful and visionary piece titled "Independence: A Symbol of Unity." “Independence is more than a debate or a date in history,” Isari said “It is about unity, resilience, and pride in who we are. I wanted to imagine what PNG could become by 2075, a strong and diverse country that is led with care.” In the Poetry category, Joshua Sinari of Zion Zeal Secondary School in the Southern Region won first place for his heartfelt poem "Independence Poem for PNG You." “Writing the poem felt like writing a song,” Sinari said. “I wanted it to speak from the heart about our land, our people, and what independence truly means as we look to the future.” The runners-up in both categories were from the Highlands Region, representing Kainantu Technical Secondary School. Phylip Ryan placed second in the Poetry category, while Simon Tau secured second place in the Essay category. For their prizes, Charlie and Joshua will each receive K5,000, while Simon and Phylip will each receive K3,000 for their second-place wins. All 24 winning entries will be included in a historic time capsule, which will be sealed in the presence of pioneering Members of Parliament and opened during PNG’s centennial celebrations in 2075. Photographs and memorabilia from this year’s anniversary will also be preserved. The competition, officially launched on May 23 and closed on June 20, served as a platform for young Papua New Guineans to reflect on the nation’s journey and share their vision for this 50th anniversary and to the next 50 years.