This photo of Vanua Levu schoolkids Meri Ravono, Sisilia Mereadani, and Selaima Radinibeqa has captured the nation’s imagination and is being widely shared on social media, so much so that it also made the front page of today’s Fiji Sun.
It reminds us that in many less developed parts of Fiji, ordinary people face a daily struggle to access services the rest of us take for granted, in this case three students who have to use a bilibili to get to school. Imagine the challenge during wet weather, storms and flooding and the anxiety their parents must feel waiting for them to return home safely.
I looked at this photo for longer than usual and realised this is why I do what I do on Grubsheet – to try to encourage better standards of governance and higher standards of public conduct so that kids like these grow up in a better country and have the bright future they deserve.
Good luck with the new school year, Meri, Sisilia and Selaima. The thoughts of all of us are with you, as it is with all young people returning to schools, colleges and universities across Fiji.
May we be worthy of the trust you have in us to help you lead happy and productive lives and our duty to you as role models to set the highest possible standards of personal conduct – of honesty, accountability, diligence, love of country and care for others.
Loloma yani.
It is often hard to pinpoint what makes Fiji classified still as a developing nation. What does that term really mean? What are the signs? You are so right Graham, this photo captured our imaginations as it is one of those signs. I remember years ago, I had another moment when I was jolted by a sign that we are still very much developing. When signing up for a new phone, at the end of the long Vodafone terms and conditions document, in the place for a signature, it read “signature or thumbprint”. How many Fijians still need to sign with their thumbprint? How many kids are traveling by water craft to school? How many kids are still waking up in tents, or doing their homework by kerosene lamp? What are we going to develop into really? Good governance or lack thereof is the determining factor. Thank you Graham for always striving for that. God bless.
You are right Graham.
Leadership is about being good stewards and building better standards for tomorrow. And good journalists bring real stories to life.
Life jackets didn’t matter to me when I saw this photo. These girls have mastered that bilibili well.
No running water at home is sad but again a reality for many children in rural Fiji.
Which brings me to what is the true role of our leaders. I would be deeply grateful to have leaders I could look up to. Many Fijians have not had that opportunity as the country is full of the same breed of coup leaders. And nothing changes except their greed of money and power. Ordinary citizens continue living hard lives in the rural settings of Fiji. Education and knowledge is power.
You have to keep on keeping on even though I intensely disagree with your tone, sometimes.
This is refreshing news indeed, Graham to the political news, I care to read from your prospective whenever I receive them via email. There is too much doom and gloom in this world where most folks inflict themselves with ill-health, pain and suffering and hold society to blame for their situations in life. The logic of self-autonomy is totally ignored and little understood that mankind has been born into this world with all the abilities and qualities to live better lives in spite of the turmoil of societal waywardness.
It is no wonder we wake up each day to news which literally affect just about everyone, but we simply do not have the “Midas Touch” nor the persuasion to encumber such knowledge and experience to avoid personal influences which keep us in a rut and helpless to a great degree of stagnation of our lives.
Education is the prime means of progress in anyone’s life, and it generally boils down to how we’ve been brought up with love and understanding even though our parents have had limited exposure to learning but at least tried somewhat painstakingly difficult and succeeded successfully where Fijian culture has been passed on down the generations.
I applaud the Fijian folks how they’ve struggled but made great progress with raising their children under God’s love and spiritual strength, thus paving the way as Fiji knows how! Fiji you will always be in my heart for the moral support and encouragement, that I personally grew up in with fond and loving memories.
There should be a way to get some rain barrels out to this village so these sweet kids can get some water at home.
I always thought how crazy it is that Fiji Water is a billion plus dollar industry yet some kids in Fiji don’t have access to water at home. Can anyone shed more light on this?
Many cities and towns around the world have already banned plastic bags, styrofoam, straws and single use items, it’s time for Fiji to get with it and find new sustainable solutions. Protecting marine life and environment should be top priority. Govt must provide a place for people to properly dispose of their plastic and glass bottles because they are being tossed on the beaches and in many places.
Fruitcakes allocated million dollars to Girmit and Sukuna Day, could have helped these kids