Brave Domestic Violence Survivor Shares Tale of woe
She is remarried and wants to help other women who may be facing the same situation she once endured
Adi Sova Vulawalu Vakacegu, 42, is a brave and courageous woman.
She is a survivor.
She had married the man of her dreams, but things turned after their fifth year of marriage and second child.
This was when the abuse and violence became rampant. For six years, it did not stop.
In her mind, Adi Sova convinced herself that she was the problem.
She wondered what her family and his family would say if she left. Her children were young, they needed her around.
Some advised her to talk to a Talatala, to pray about her marriage.
She did. Nothing changed. The beating and the abuse did not stop.
Then one day when she saw her husband with a match and kerosene, she literally ran for her life. This time there was no turning back.
Today Adi Sova works as an Executive Administrative Assistant for the Fijian Fashion Festival.
She is remarried and wants to help other women who may be facing the same situation she once endured. While some women who were once victims of violence and abuse at the hands of intimate partners choose not to share their story, Mrs Vakacegu could not help but openly share her life experience – in the hope that it will help save a life.
Her Facebook post on Tuesday September 3, 2019, was ignited after another death attributed to genderbased violence last weekend.
The NGO Coalition on Human Rights (NGOCHR) in a statement noted that seven women recently lost their lives due to gender-based violence.
The Coalition said it was shocking that in some of these cases, women had already sought domestic violence restraining orders and were in the process of separation.
Yet this did not save their lives.
These women were seeking help from service providers and the Police.
These women were doing everything right to protect themselves and their children, the Coalition said. For our readers who may not have read Adi Sova’s Facebook post, you can read more on Page 12 of today’s edition.
It was shared 875 times and received 2.8k engagements. ROSI DOVIVERATA
Eight divers from various arms of the disciplined services withstood a tough eight-week course to pass with flying colours at the Togalevu Navy Base yesterday.
While receiving their certificates, the graduates spoke of the need for a positive mental attitude to withstand the various tests they took. The course was so tough that only eight graduated from the initial field of 26 trainees.
The eight were from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Naval Division, Fiji Police Force and 3rd Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment (3FIR).
One of the graduates and 3FIR trooper Mesake Natale, 26, described the course as “very challenging”.
He said participants needed to have the right mental attitude.
Ordinary seaman (OS) Adre Kubunavono said he was glad that he completed it.
“With the good mindset nothing is impossible,” he said.
Police Constable (PC) Inoke Nabou said the Basic Diving Course was “very tough”. “I’m happy to complete the course because at times I really struggled,” he said.
He said the main challenge was to adapt himself to the new type of training.
PC Pauliasi Ramoli said the course was a test of attitude and he was glad to complete it.
Chief guest and RFMF Chief of Navy Captain (Navy) Humphrey Tawake congratulated the eight who successfully completed the basic diving course, which he described as gruelling.
He said he was glad that they were
able to have Police officers and 3FIR troopers taking part in the course.
The course, he said, tested attitude and mental preparedness.
The eight who successfully completed can dive up to a depth of 80 metres.