Jendy’s Journey: Chasing Big Dreams through Kokoda FODE

At just 21 years old, Jendy is already a leader. As Head Girl at Kokoda College and a determined Grade 11 student, she is balancing responsibility, resilience and a powerful dream for the future.

Each learning rotation on campus, Jendy travels three to four hours to attend classes at Kokoda College. The journey is long and challenging, but distance has never been a barrier to her ambition. Her goal is clear: to become a doctor and bring much-needed health services back to her community. Flexible Open Distance Education (FODE) is the pathway helping her turn that dream into reality.

Jendy’s passion for health was shaped early in life, inspired by her grandparents, both of whom worked as health professionals. Growing up, she saw firsthand the difference dedicated health workers can make - especially in communities where access to basic healthcare remains a daily challenge.

FODE has given Jendy a second chance to complete her secondary education, offering the flexibility she needs to balance study with family responsibilities. Outside the classroom, she supports her parents by helping on the cocoa farm and tending to their gardens - work she undertakes with the same commitment she brings to her studies.

Through determination, resilience and the support of FODE, Jendy is forging a path toward a brighter future - for herself and for the community she hopes to one day serve.

Kokoda College FODE is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and Kokoda Initiative.