The Young Elites Nokondis Program is an initiative led by the tertiary students from Eastern Highlands Province (EHP), was officially launched with the goal of fostering unity and giving back to the community. The program is spearheaded by President Leeben Benson, a fourth-year student at the University of Papua New Guinea, and seeks to bring together Eastern Highlands students from various institutions across the country. Beberth Kanaku, a third-year Bachelor of Education student at Pacific Adventist University and the program's media officer, highlighted the initiative's four main components: cleanup campaigns, community awareness, a tertiary education expo, and a rugby tournament. “This program aims to unite all tertiary students of Eastern Highlands Province and provide a platform to give back to our communities,” Kanaku said. “For too long, we’ve only mingled with students within our own institutions, but now, we’re creating opportunities to connect with others and make a meaningful impact in our province.” The program was launched on December 14th, 2024, at Goroka Youth Centre Hall. The rugby tournament, dubbed the "Young Elites Nokondis Cup," is expected to feature 8–10 teams in its inaugural year. While initial plans aimed to include 20 teams from various tertiary institutions. Some schools received late notice and contributed to cleanup and awareness activities instead. Kanaku shared that the program also aims to inspire younger generations. “Through the tertiary expo, we want to guide primary and secondary school students to focus on their ambitions. Using rugby as a motivational tool, we’re sending the message: ‘If you want to participate in well-organized events like this, work hard and make it into a tertiary institution.’” The program faced significant challenges, including financial constraints and student cooperations. As a self-funded initiative, the team relied on K200 registration fees from participating teams to cover expenses. “It wasn’t easy, but as our guest speaker, Mr. Jurere Marco, said during the launch, ‘You gotta start somewhere, somehow.’ That’s what we did,” Kanaku admitted. Despite the difficulties, the cleanup campaign in Goroka started on Thursday 19th of December, was a success with a lot of positive feedback from the towns’ residents. Town authorities showed their support by providing gloves, garbage bags, and dump trucks, while locals offered water and refreshments to the students. Looking ahead, the program has long-term goals to address social issues within Eastern Highlands communities and promote peace and development. “This is just the beginning. We’re building a foundation for something greater in the years to come. Our goal is to create a positive impact and inspire change,” Kanaku said. The Young Elites Nokondis Program exemplifies the determination of Eastern Highlands students to unite, lead, and contribute to their communities. Through its various initiatives, the program aims to leave a lasting legacy in the province while inspiring future generations to pursue their dreams.