First to study abroad
Village library helps student pursue dream
A LIBRARY built in a village in Natewa, Vanua Levu, and supported by The Fiji Times, providing it daily newspapers over the past two years has reaped rewards for a Year 13 villager who is preparing for tertiary studies in Australia.
Nadavaci Village community and social worker Lote Saro said the newspapers and books at the library kept villagers informed, broadening their knowledge and understanding of events and opportunities around the world.
In 2014, the village built a new library under Mr Saro’s leadership because he saw the need to raise the villagers’ reading abilities.
“Our library started before 2014 but it was in a shed,” he said.
“We made sure all the villagers, young and old, had access to library books to read and expand their knowledge of things in this world.
“The villagers made good use of this and we are seeing the fruits of our commitment in building this library here as Karalo Maibena has also been a participant of this library program.
“We are grateful to The Fiji Times for their support because our villagers are now up to date with things happening in Fiji, they are aware of the Government’s various programs to assist them.”
Student Maibena said the library helped him many times during his studies to collect information for his projects, saving him travelling costs to and from Savusavu.
“I didn’t have to travel far to do my research because I used the village library and completed my school projects,” he said.
“I also received awards for scoring high marks in my annual exams at St Bedes College in Savusavu.
“Now, I have been awarded a scholarship from the Ferguson Education Group in Australia to study automotive engineering.
“I leave next month.” Maibena will be the first student from his village to study abroad.