Our dreams will finally come true, sisters tell
The dream of obtaining a university qualification was taken away from sisters Akanisi Draniliga, 25, and Soweri Rokoiga, 33, 11 years ago because of their inability to find the right source of funds to further their education.
But now, the two sisters will be finally realise their goal after intervention frome Graduate Women Fiji and the Ministry for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation’s funded programme ‘Economically Empowering Women in Informal Settlements through Education Project’.
The sisters are among five other women from the Nanuku Informal Settlement in Vatuwaqa, who will have their university study courses paid for by the project, which is partly funded by the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation.
Ms Rokoiga, who is currently pursuing her Certificate in Office Administration at the University of the South Pacific, under the Pacific TAFE programme, said they never thought they would be able to complete their studies and obtain a university qualification because of the financial constraints they were faced with as a family growing up. “Living in informal settlements, we know when there is no funds to study; that was it for us. We would go on to look for jobs to support our family and getting a university qualification will not even be considered by most of us,” she said. “Today, we are grateful for the big assistance by the ‘Economically Empowering Women in Informal Settlements through Education Project’ that has allowed us to get back to school at the beginning of this year.
“We have begun our studies in the first semester and we will continue until we graduate and further our education at the university level.” She said the project allowed her to set a great example to her five children, who would now look up to her as she furthers her education.
Her sister, Ms Draniliga, is pursuing her Diploma in Accounting also at the University of the South Pacific, under the Pacific TAFE programme.
Ms Draniliga said she was grateful for the opportunity to be able to make her dream of becoming a qualified accountant come true.