Vuniwaqa equips students of Nanuku Settlement, Vatuwaqa
Minister reminds parents, children that education is the most powerful tool for empowerment.
More than 100 students of Nanuku Settlement in Vatuwaqa received their school stationery packages from the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation on Saturday. The students range from Year 1 to Year 13 and attend various schools in the nearby areas. The packages included exercise books, book covers and other everyday school stationery items. While handing over the school supplies, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa, told students and parents of Nanuku, that education was the most powerful empowerment tool, which could be used to bring about positive changes in our communities.
She also said the initiative by the ministry to assist families in this way was part of its key responsibilities and a practical way of ensuring that children from underprivileged families could continue to have access to education.
“Education is a basic right of all children and an essential element in preparing them for later life when they will eventually complete their education and move into the workforce,” Ms Vuniwaqa said.
She also encouraged parents and students to use this assistance from the Fijian Government properly in the classrooms and at home because they were essentials of the learning process. She concluded by sending her best wishes to all students of the settlement for this new academic year. Nanuku Settlement turagani-koro’ (Headman), Iosefo Baleinatuvu, said the children came from different family backgrounds and most of the parents were unemployed.
“We are grateful for the donation from the ministry because it will enable most of these students to go back to school from next week,” Mr Baleinatuvu said.
“This is the first time a minister has visited the community and handed over school stationery to children.
“It is a big relief to each of the families assisted.”
Parents of the community shared similar sentiments. Daisy Kumar, a 41-year-old single mother and speaking on behalf of all the parents, thanked the ministry for the packages.
She said the assistance would enable her to send her daughter to secondary school, whereby she will begin Year 9.