WARWICK SMITH/Things
A group of students from West Papua who lost their study visas managed to secure jobs and visas with the company V-Pro Construction.
A group of students from West Papua fearing their future have secured work visas and jobs through a construction company.
About 40 students from the Indonesian province have studied at various tertiary institutions in New Zealand, but their place in the country was jeopardized when their scholarships were unexpectedly halted.
In December they received a letter from the Provincial Government of Papua stating that their living allowance, travel and study allowances had stopped and that they had to go home because their studies did not meet expectations. About 12 have since returned home, but the rest were worried about their future.
In May, eight of the students completed their carpentry course at Palmerston North polytech UCOL, but things remained uncertain.
But through an affiliation at Grace City Church in Palmerston North, the students got in touch with Patrick Phoa, a health and safety consultant for V-Pro Construction in Manawatū, and were granted work visas with company support.
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One of the students, Roy Towolom, said they were all grateful to be able to get work and stay in New Zealand.
“It’s a miracle. It’s pretty unreal. We thank God all the boys got a good chance.”
They live in a shared house, but now earn and can pay the rent.
Towolom said it was a good opportunity for them to learn and they enjoyed working.
Phoa arranged interviews with the students and said he was happy they could stay and contribute to the community.
Before that he worked in student support at the tertiary institute IPU New Zealand.
“I treat them like my sons. I take care of them.”
The company’s owner and CEO, Jacky Xing, said the new recruits were helpful and training them.
He would have liked to have supported the men when he heard of their situation.
“We really wanted to help as soon as we knew they were in a critical situation. We knew we had to act quickly rather than later.”
WARWICK SMITH/Things
Roy Towolom, left, now works for V-Pro Construction, along with the company’s health and safety adviser, Patrick Phoa.
The Papua Student Association Oceania is committed to the students who have lost their scholarship.
Of the remaining students at UCOL, one is still waiting for a work visa and the others are waiting for payment of their tuition fees so they can continue.
There are other students from IPU, Massey University, University of Canterbury, University of Waikato, Auckland University of Technology and Ardmore Flying School, who are supported by churches and community groups.
Some still have their tuition reimbursed by the provincial government, while others work with the provincial government to pay for tuition or get a new visa.