Forty female students from Tokarara, Marienville and Gordons Secondary Schools graduated from the RISE Empowerment Program at the Gateway Hotel on Saturday 12 September 2026.

The six-month program focused on personal development, career readiness, and leadership.

Through six structured phases, the students developed skills in self-leadership, communication, goal setting, career exploration, health and wellbeing, and community impact.

Following a successful pilot involving 20 students from Tokarara Secondary School, RISE expanded in 2026 to include students from Marienville and Gordons Secondary Schools, doubling the number of mentees participating in the program.

CPL Foundation Inc. and the Sir Brian Bell Foundation supported the program as lead sponsors. CPL Foundation contributed K182,899.87 towards program delivery, management, workshops and in-school support initiatives.

This support benefited the 40 mentees and 20 mentors involved in the program and enabled RISE to extend its impact through its School Support Project and wider community outreach activities. Sir Mahesh Patel, OBE, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of CPL Group, shared a prerecorded message with the graduating cohort.

“CPL Foundation has been proud to support RISE from the very beginning. We saw in RISE a strong reflection of our values, particularly our belief that when young people are given opportunity, encouragement and the right support, they can achieve remarkable things.

“Our commitment has always been about more than providing financial support. It is about investing in young people like you and in the future of Papua New Guinea,” Sir Mahesh said.

In her remarks, Michelle Pillay, Founder and Director of RISE, acknowledged CPL Foundation’s contribution, saying: “Thank you, CPL Foundation, for your unwavering support. You are helping to create something far greater than a single program."

"Thank you for believing in our vision and the lasting impact it continues to have on our communities.”