Headgirl’s Mum Wants To Build A Special School
Her vision is to support the children of Naitasiri in the highlands.
The emotional mother of Suva Special School headgirl Asenaca Ranadi has a vision to build a special school for the children of Naitasiri in the highlands.
Mother, Ecelina Rokorairuku, 49, of Matailobau, Naitasiri, was in tears when she witnessed her fourth youngest of five children badged as the Suva Special School’s headgirl during the prefect induction ceremony at the Namadi-based institution yesterday. Ms Rokorairuku was emotional when she witnessed her daughter, Asenaca, 16, with a learning disability, become the first in the family to be bestowed with a headgirl’s badge. Because Matailobau Village is far from Suva, Ms Rokorairuku moved to Makoi, Nasinu, for her daughter’s better education by enrolling her in the special school.
As Ms Rokorairuku wiped tears off her face she longs for the day parents like her with special children will not have to move too far from their village. But that can only happen if there is a special school for the children of Naitaisiri in or near their village. Ms Rokorairuku has set her goal to build a special school for all the children of Naitasiri because there were many handicapped children in the villages of the province that needed special care and education. Most could not afford to travel or settle in Suva. “We have many children in the village who need special care, but we do not have a special school for our children to learn and get academic qualifications.
“When I moved from Naitasiri to Suva, I made a goal for myself that I will build a special school in Naitasiri for all the children who need our love, care and support. “My vision for those children is for them to be as well educated as special children in Suva and urban centres,”,” Ms Rokorairuku said. “If it wasn’t for my daughter and the move to Nasinu, I wouldn’t have been able to find the difference of the special children in Naitasiri and in Suva.
“God has gifted me with a daughter, who has made me think far not only for myself and my family, but all of Naitasiri.” Banking on divine intervention, Mrs Rokorairuku said: “One day, I have made a promise to myself and to the Lord, that I will open a special school in Naitasiri.”