Aussie teacher shows passion for children of Namosi
Stuck in Fiji for almost two years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Melbourne school teacher Janine Atkinson has made Navunibau Village in the interior of the Namosi highlands home.
Ms Atkinson’s passion for teaching and her love for children has led her to an isolated village community to oversee children of the village continue to read, write and learn English even when schools remain closed.
Eating what the villagers eat on a daily basis without any supply of electricity, this is a sacrifice that she is willing to make for the children of Namosi.
She is also in the process of building a village library that will greatly benefit the children.
“Education to break the cycle of poverty, education to break the cycle of just drinking grog and being lazy. Education is important, that is the reason I am here,” she said.
“I am a primary school teacher in Melbourne and I have always been coming in and out of Fiji for the past 15 years as a mission worker.
“I have arranged for up to 100 books and a laptop to be available in the library that I hope to construct soon for the children here.”
She was concerned when told that there was no access to books available in the village for children to read in their leisure time.
“I am doing this because of my love for the kids, I have been teaching for more than 20 years in Melbourne teaching English, reading, writing and maths.”
She said the village is now her home and the villagers her family.
“When the library for students in the village is built, it will be a place for everyone to come and read and learn and I will be taking classes there.”