“Every opportunity comes. If you want to wait for the ideal one you will wait for the rest of your life. You never know one opportunity may open the doors to another.” is a quote by Cameron Andripa.
Cameron Andaripa hails from East Sepik Province in Yangoru- Saussia District, Nungori village. Nestled along the winding Sepik Highway, East Sepik Province.
Andripa’s area is sometimes referred to as central Sepik and is known for its fast growing local economic opportunities in Agriculture. It is also known for its rich culture and is a vibrant community.
Andaripa, a 2024 graduate of the University of Technology has worked hard for a better future and his dreams have borne fruit this year.
He was selected for the prestigious Ramu NiCo Graduate Development Scheme program, a milestone that could shape his future.
Andaripa grew up in a home where his parents were separated and in the humble beginnings of his education, he had no fixed home.
His childhood was marked by instability. As a teenager, he often felt like a spectator in his own life, yearning for a sense of belonging and purpose.
Despite these adversities, Andaripa embraced education as his winning ticket out of the life he was living.
Andaripa completed his grade 12 in 2016 but was not able to secure a place at the University of Technology because his Grade Point Average (GPA) did not meet the required GPA of Unitech.
“Since my GPA is low I decided to apply to schools that are close to Unitech so I could upgrade my Math and Psychics at the same time and work my way into Unitech,” Andaripa said.
He had upgraded his academic marks whilst studying in Polytech for two years, and in 2020, Unitech accepted him to do his first year majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
In the mid-semester of his final 2023, his aspirations took a significant turn when he learned about the Ramu NiCo Graduate Development Scheme through the career expo hosted by Unitech.
“All I knew is that there is a mining company called Ramu NiCo but I haven’t heard about the Graduate Development Scheme (GDS) program and exploring further, I noticed the company slogan: One Ramu NiCo and One Community.
I went back to my room , took out my laptop and did a quick research about the company and I found that they have two work sites, one at KBK and a refinery at Basamuk,” Cameron said.
“During the career fair the only company that stood out from all the companies was Ramu NiCo because Mr. Heptol was doing face-to-face interviews with the students so I brought my CV and transcript and gave it to them”, Andaripa said firmly.
Andaripa said when he saw Ramu NiCo interviewing with the students, deep down his heart he knew that would be the company that would pave a pathway for his future.
Days, weeks, and months flew by and Cameron graduated proudly in February 2024 with a degree in mechanical engineering, a symbol of his hard work and dedication.
After several weeks and months of waiting, Andaripa received the call that would change his life. It was Mr. Heptol from Ramu NiCo.
His heart beats doubled, blood pumping twice than normal as he tried to pay 100% attention to Heptol.
Mr Heptol’s phone call was heaven sent. He was accepted to undergo the Ramu NiCo GDS program
It was a moment filled with joy.
“Another company accepted me for their GDS program but they gave me six tests to do weekly and if I passed the test I’m qualified to work with them,”Andaripa said.
“I completed five of their tests and when I received the call from Ramu NiCo I intentionally failed another company’s final test”, Cameron recalled with a smile on his face.
“When I received the call from Ramu NiCo a feeling of satisfaction just arose in me because team Ramu NiCo doesn’t know me and out of the blue they accepted me so I feel satisfied . It’s my hard work and because of this I salute the management of Ramu NiCo,” Andaripa said.
Before knowing Ramu NiCo and the GDS program on a Christmas holiday Andaripa travelled to Madang with his friends to buy betel nuts to raise funds for his school fees.
They arrived at the Usino Bundi Highway and what caught his eye was the pipelines that run along the Madang and Usino Bundi Highway.
“Out of curiosity I asked my friends and they told me it’s the slurry pipeline for Ramu NiCo that runs from Kurumbukari to Basamuk,” Andaripa said.
For Andaripa, the GDS program is the best platform created for students to apply the theory they learned in school to practise. This opportunity represents more than a job; it is a chance for him to broaden his knowledge.
Andaripa travelled to Madang and met his 19 fellow graduates at Ramu NiCo head office. Together they formed the 2024 batch of Ramu NiCo GDS program.
After signing their contracts Andaripa and his seven colleagues travelled to the Basamuk refinery site where he was attached to the mobile equipment maintenance while his seven colleagues worked in other departments at the refinery.
Andaripa added that it is a good learning environment but it depends on individuals on how they react to their working environment whether they are willing to learn or not.
He said the best thing to do is go with the flow of the work environment and condition and learn.
“Overall the work environment, accommodation, and everything Ramu NiCo provided here is the best. When I first came I thought I was going to sleep in a small room, but what I saw on my arrival day was beyond my expectations”, Andaripa shared.
With the backing of Ramu NiCo and his unwavering determination, Andaripa is ready to embark on this exciting new chapter of his life, proving that with hard work and perseverance, dreams can indeed become a reality.