SHADEN Imeha Jr, a 27-year-old from Segiri village in Abau District, Central Province, had to go through a lot in life before becoming who he is today.
Imeha humbly started his education journey in his village where he attended his elementary school at Segiri.
Following the completion of his elementary studies, in 2009 his grandpa took him to Gohodae Adventist Primary School to do grade three (3) because there was no primary school back in his village.
Imeha recalled, his grandpa asked one of his friends at Ganai if he could accommodate him for only one year, which he agreed.
He attended Gohodae Adventist Primary School but stayed for a while and transferred down to Upulima Primary School along Magi-Highway,” said Imeha.
Again, at Upulima Primary School, Imeha spent only six months and return to his village, and the following year (2010), he repeated grade three up to grade six at Iabai’i Primary School, under a canvas classroom built by locals with bush materials.
“During those days, we have only one teacher Mr William Iamge, who sacrificed for his village people,” he said.
“From under a canvas classroom, Mr Iamge imparted knowledge to me which made my education journey a tool to bring change into my life, family and community as a whole. Thankfully, I completed my grade eight at Iabai’i Primary School in 2015 and was selected for grade nine at Ianu Lower Secondary School in year 2016.”
Year 2018 was another successful year for Mr Imeha as he got an offer to continue grade 11 and 12 at Kupiano Secondary School.
In 2020, he was fortunate to receive an offer to study Diploma in Human Resource Management at the International Training Institute (ITI), however, he attended classes for only six weeks and left due to school fees problem.
Imeha went back to my village and stayed for two and half years, where he involved himself in subsistence activities like fishing to help raise his school fees for the following year.
“Those were my challenging years as I recalled back,” Imeha recalled.
While staying at home, young Imeha also actively involved in church activities apart from finding ways to make money for his school fees.
Whatever he earns from subsistence activities still did not help him to meet his tuition fee to continue his studies at the very earliest.
With tears and heartache, Mr Imeha promised to himself that he will certainly return to school in 2023.
The eagerness of him going back to school was there but school fee was the only problem that held him back.
“The hunger and desire that grew within me allowed me not to wait,” said Imeha.
“I said to myself that with money or without money, I will still return to school because I do know that my God shall help me financially, not immediately but surely God will use somebody else to help me pay my school fee.
“Within that two and half years, I did not even know that God answered my prayers and used Tom Laupah, who assisted me by picking up students’ sponsorship scheme application form from Central Provincial Government Office.
“He filled all the necessary information on my behalf and submitted. Thank God that the Central Provincial Government paid my school fees, covering two years (2023-2024.”
Through Central Provincial Government’s sponsorship, Mr Imeha re-enrolled at International Training Institute to study diploma in Management in 2023 and successfully graduated this year (2024).
Despite going through financial difficulties, he knew my God was there to help him and He did it for him.
“God worked through many ways to help us go through life challenges. The challenges we face in life shouldn’t cease us from coming to God but this could make us to lean forward and reaching out for his hand to help lead us. “Casting all your cares to God for He care for you”, (1 Peter 5:7)”.
“I want to thank those who always stand at the back of me, especially uncle Tom Laupah and uncle Malaburgh Imeha and his wife Theresa Malaburgh, for providing accommodation and supporting me with little things that also contributed towards completing my studies with a Diploma Certificate.
“I would say that education doesn’t stop when you face financial downfall; turn adversity into opportunities and take charge of your own destiny and let God lead you to reach your dream.
“Though I came from single-parent home but this will not stop me from achieving my dream someday to fulfil my grandpa’s dream and also my namesake Imeha.
“I want to thank God for my beautiful mum who work hard to raised me and my siblings up from childhood till today.
“She is not only a mother but also a father to us because she does both work as for man and woman.
“Mum, you’re best and I thank God for you. You never let me down as your first-born son. You raised us together with my siblings; and you also have a best father Mr Imeha who helped you raised us.
“I also want to thank my grandpa Immeha and grandma Kokoi for raising me and my siblings up as well. You both also contributed towards my success when I was in grade 3 up to grade 8 at Iabai’i Primary School.
“You both are not here but your memory still lingers in my heart and will never forget those days we were together.
“In my recent achievements, I remain ambitious and determine to further my education into university someday to fulfil my grandpa’s dream of graduating from university.
“I know God has plans for me and his plans are always perfect and revealing to us at his own timing. (Jeremiah 29:11).”
Imeha’s message to young people out there: “If you are someone who came from a single parent just like me and others who came through same road, don’t let the negativity of people distract you from achieving your dream. Set clear goals and get going, you will be there on the road to success. If you have dream, but you left school due to financial constraints, don’t stop from there, you can be like me staying for one or two years but you must go back to school and start from where you left and get going. You have better day ahead for you. Don’t cry behind closed doors and say why am I like this. Instead bring all your petitions before God and tell him why you left me here. Help me and lead me if you have plans for me.”
“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears” (Psalm 18:6).
