Love and affection
Viola’s undying support for kids living with cancer
WHEN asked why she joined a non-profit organisation given her extensive qualification and experience, Viola Lesi stared at us for a minute before she spoke. And when she did, tears streamed down her cheeks before she paused to collect herself.
“It’s been a very big deviation from what I normally do, yes, but also an absolute privilege for me,” she said, wiping off her tears.
Viola is one of three working staff members employed by WOWS Kids Fiji (WKF), a non-profit charity foundation for children with cancer in Fiji.
She juggles everything from events co-ordinator, to providing moral support to the many parents of children living with cancer.
It isn’t an easy job but one she is passionate about.
“It has been a very humbling experience, it’s completely different from my past work experience and even my education background. You know to be part of the journey of these families and their sick children ... it’s been an absolute privilege,” she said.
“My passions are education and science so really my work has been really around that.
“I taught for seven years then I left teaching, and joined the Institute of Applied Sciences at the University of the South Pacific (USP) where I was a graduate assistant and
consultant.
“I studied for my masters in science with emphasis on food science part-time and I was involved in analytical laboratory work for five years. I designed and developed online and print courses because of my teaching background.
“I worked for about 20 years before I joined WOWS Kids Fiji,” Viola shared.
Viola says its the story behind the founding of WKF that inspired her.
“We known the journey started with the Tongan girl, Tae Kami, but we Fijians have turned that dream and made it our own.
“You know offering extensive support for children living with cancer. It’s been everyone’s journey.
“As adults we complain a lot but you have these little children, who one day they’re sick and one day they’re back to being kids, making every day count whereas us adult we tend to wallow in self pity.
“These children, they bounce back to living life — we have a lot to learn from them.”
In any given time, Viola and her fellow staff members work with 60 to 70 children who are diagnosed with various forms of cancer at the WOWS resource centre.
Sometimes, it can seem like a losing battle when they lose some of their children who’ve succumbed to the disease.
This year, they received 22 newly diagnosed cases but they lost 24 of their children.
“I can’t even fathom what the parents go through or even the doctors and the nurses who are with them in hospital,” described Viola.
It’s not the end of the road as yet for Viola who says she will stick around at WOWS Kids Fiji and be there for their children and parents.
As adults we complain a lot but you have these little children, who one day they’re sick and one day they’re back to being kids, making every day count whereas us adult we tend to wallow in self pity. ~ Viola Lesi