Family values come first for contestant Merekula
Seruwaia Baleisawani Merekula, 19, will promote the values that ‘A good family builds a good Nation’ in this year’s Vodafone Millennium Sinu Festival 2018. The festival will start on Saturday with the crowning on August 4 at the Valelevu Ground. A native of Visama in Tailevu with maternal links to Nawaca in Bua, Merekula said family was important. “I believe that whatever we portray outside is a reflection of our family and how we were raised,” she said. “I joined as a contestant because I’ve always wanted a solid foundation, which I can use to advocate some important issues for example the impacts of climate change and the importance of quality family time.” Merekula was motivated by a family member to join the festival as a queen contestant. “I am the first in the family to be a contestant and I took part because my uncle encouraged me to always try out new things in life,” she said. “In the next five years I see myself joining NGO’s, visiting other countries and advocating on issues that will help build a better tomorrow for everyone.” The Tailevu lass lists her hobbies as singing, reading and socialising. Her advice to peers is that they are never too young to achieve anything and to let their faith be bigger than their fear because faith can move mountains. Her favourite bible verse is Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him”.