MEET TIMOTHY FONG OF SUVA

A PADDLER who went missing during the Waitui Outrigger International Championships at Suva Point on Thursday night said all he could think of while at sea was being eaten by sharks.
A first-timer to the sport, Timothy Fong, 21, was out at sea for more than four hours after part of his canoe broke.
"When I was out on the reef, halfway between the sandbank and the passage, I got caught in a huge wave and the back-arm of my canoe broke," said Fong.
"The only time I saw someone was when the wave took me high up, but when it came down I found myself in the water.
"All I was thinking about was the sharks and I wanted to get back on my canoe as fast as I could.
"I swam for about 20 minutes before I managed to hold it and swim to Makuluva."
Fong said the rubber of his canoe came off and he decided to fix it first.
"It was lucky I had a spare rubber with me," he said.
"After that, I paddled back but was confused where the starting point was because by then it was dark.
"The only thing I could see were the lights from the National Stadium that acted as my beacon."
Fong paddled toward the lights until he saw people waiting on the shorefront.
"When I reached the beach, everyone was shouting.
"I actually thought everybody had left," the relieved paddler said yesterday.
Fong said it was an experience he would never forget.
"This was my first time in this sport and it taught me a lot, especially to be more careful out at sea and never to panic."
Yesterday, the navy stepped up its patrol at the championship after Thursday's incident.
Nadi Bay Club secretary Collette Samson said while Fong was missing, everyone on the beach were concerned and discussing ways to help the navy and a search party that was put out to sea.
"Everybody was extremely worried about him we were just getting ready to go out and help the navy with the search when Fong paddled in," she said.
Fiji Outrigger Canoe Racing Association president Colin Philip the navy and officials at the tournament were on full alert following the incident. "We definitely learnt something on Thursday and we reorganised our rescue boats today (yesterday)."
Adapted from Fijitimes Online

MEET MAXINE INIA OF ITU'MUTA, ROTUMA

PUBLIC speaking is something most people refrain from. Some prefer to develop the skill privately while others have taken the initiative to practise and improve on their communication and leadership skills in groups.
For 23-year-old Maxine Inia, joining the non-government organisation Toastmasters has helped her grow into a confident and mature individual.
Toastmasters is a group of individuals working to help each other be more confident and competent in front of an audience.
Born and bred in Suva, Maxine is from Itu'muta on the island of Rotuma and had always wanted to be an air hostess. She has a younger brother. Her parents Marika and Mareta Inia had always been supportive of what decisions she made in life.
She said life growing up was like in any other average family.
"There are two of us in the family and my brother is a year younger than me," she said.
"My father is a rugby referee and gets called in now and then to officiate at games. He is also a retired teacher. My mother used to work for the Ministry of Education but is now at home.
"I wanted to be an air hostess because an aunt of mine was in the industry. I kept that aim until I was in Form Six. I just went with the flow and my mind kept changing but I kept wanting to be an air hostess."
Maxine said her family faced difficulties like any other family.
It was not until she reached Form Six that she decided she wanted to work in an office.
"Like all families, times were hard but we managed. I went to Suva Methodist, spent the first term of Form One at Dudley before my father was transferred to Richmond High School on Kadavu.
"I didn't want to go. I was enjoying high school in Suva and didn't want to leave but my grandmother sat me down and told me to go with my family.
"She insisted it was best for me to go with my family."
Life in Kadavu was different from what she expected. Having her father teach at the same school they went to was hard.
Maxine said they were not given special treatment. Instead, they were given a hard time especially when they were expected to follow school rules and not get into trouble. She said even though they faced this at school, it became a disciplinary advantage for her and her brother. They stayed in Kadavu for two years before returning to Suva.
"Life was different then. We were like tourists but we were not given special treatment. Just because our father was a teacher did not mean we could do what we wanted or break the rule.
"They were strict on us and eventually it did us a lot of good. It taught us a lot about life's values, discipline and responsibility.
"After high school, I went to catering school in 2003. At the same time, I had a part-time job at the Enjoy Restaurant, now called Maya Daba.
"I couldn't cope with studies and the job so I let go the job. I then worked for a while at Daikoku restaurant and it was an educational experience. I learned a lot while I was there."
She joined Erasito Consultants as a receptionist in September 2004, a day after her birthday.
She said it was difficult at first to deal with clients over the phone and even her communication skills were a bit rusty.
However, she was determined to make the most of life. She was introduced to Toastmasters, an international NGO started in 1924 in the US.
"Toastmasters is compulsory at work. When I first heard about it, I was like hell no' because I saw the participants had to give impromptu speeches. So I sat, listened and observed what was going on and I thought it was really helpful.
"When I was young, I could socialise and communicate with other people but not formally.
"Before, when I used to communicate with clients, I used to eat my own words. I spoke so low that even the person next to me could not hear what I was saying.
"So the experience was an eye-opener for me and I've never regretted doing what I am doing now. I am more confident and can communicate more formally than before."
She said the organisation met every Tuesday and there has been a lot of interest from people as young as 14 years old.
With new-found confidence, Maxine has her sights on working for the United Nations in development or social work.
Like all kindhearted beings, Maxine strives to help those in need.
Her advice to young people is to enjoy life to the full and make the most of what you have.

VINAKA AND HANISIOF MAXINE!

ADAPTED FORM FIJTIMES ONLINE

MEET DAVID WHITESIDE, FIT GOLD MEDALIST

DAVID Whiteside reaped the reward of hard work last week when he walked away with a gold medal at the Fiji Institute of Technology graduation.
For the 23-year-old, it was the end of many sleepless nights and anxiety.
He said he made it by being committed, passionate and trusting in the Lord.
David won a gold medal in Digital Animation Techniques.
He went to Holy Trinity Primary School in the capital before joining the Suva Christian Community High School.
He furthered his studies at the FIT for one and a half years before graduation.
David got married in 2006 to Litiana and they have a wonderful daughter named Bianca who is 14 months old.
In receiving the honour David said he was proud of his achievement.
"This really makes me proud. It's a great achievement for myself especially after the sleepless nights I had and time away from my wife and daughter.
"To me it was worth it."
He said without sacrifice and commitment, he would not have passed.
Sometimes, he had to go without food, no sleep while he studied and worked on his projects.
"To be successful in what we do, we have to make a lot of sacrifice." he said.
"You have to be committed and passionate because without passion you won't be committed."
David believes that putting his trust in the Lord is one of the key values to his achievement and success. "I thank the Lord for giving me the strength, wisdom and the knowledge which enabled me to do well in my studies."
As a young boy, David wanted to be an artist.
This was mainly through his uncle John Robinson who has been a great source of inspiration and a role model for him.
He said not only was he a great artist but a great father too.
This are the two things that drives him to being an artist and a family man."When growing up, I was very much into watching animated movies and cartoons and i used to wonder how they were done.
"That is how I was interested in studying it."He said he would apply to a couple of advertising companies for a jobs and then continue his studies in his field.
David said hard work and sacrifice would bring glory at the end of the day.
He said if people set their goals right and work hard toward them, they would definitely achieve it. "To young people, I would like to remind you of the Bible verse from the Book of Psalms 37:4 which says "delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart". "I would like to thank the Lord for being my source of strength, my relatives, my wife and my grandmother, not forgetting my daughter Bianca and uncle John for inspiring me."

CONGRATULATIONS DAVID AND FAMILY!

Adapted from Fijitimes Online

MEET ZUBER ALI OF SUVA

Zuber Ali Azimullah (pictured) believes nothing is impossible if people obey their parents and believe in God.
Zuber, 21, who is the eldest in his family, has two sisters and one brother. He attended Suva Muslim Primary School before moving on to Suva Muslim College where he reached Form Three. He later spent one year doing vocational studies, before moving on to help his father in their family business.
Zuber said he left school because his father fell ill. He had to stay home and look after their cable business Maqs Cables.
"It was very hard for me to leave school at an early age especially when I saw my friends going to school but I had to do it for my dad and for the family," he said.
Zuber said his father didn't give him a choice to pursue another career because he wanted him to be part of the family business.
"When I was small, my dad used to tell me that I would have to work in our cable business which he started in 1991," he said.
He said even though he didn't like it at first, listening to his father's advice and respecting his instructions, he was able to see himself succeeding.
He never went through proper tertiary education but stayed home and learnt from his father and now he is running their family business, specialised in manufacturing, designing and repairing cables.
"I learnt from him. When I was in school, sometimes I couldn't do my homework. It was different in the workshop where I helped my father out. That's how I learnt this job."
He said the most important people in his business were his customers and he would try to meet their needs everyday.
"I make sure I provide them with what they want. I can do any kind of cable even if it's difficult, I would try and do it for my customers."
He believes God was always there for those who tried and would always be available for guidance and provision.
"All we have to do is to trust God and never give up hope," he said.
"As it happened to my dad and me, I'm sure good things can happen to anyone who believes in Him."
Zuber said he was able to overcome difficulties in life which allowed him to learn new things. He said he has never regretted following his father's advice and would continue to hold up the name of their family business.
Zuber advises young people to listen to their parents and serve God.
"There are only two things I would recommend for young people nowadays. Obey and listen to your parents and serve the Lord with a good heart. Without God we won't be successful and He is the only ally we can count on."

ADAPTED FROM FIJITIMES ONLINE

MEET AKAPUSI TUMATE OF YADRANA, LAKEBA, LAU

Spending years in the city being a barrow boy is not easy but that's what Akapusi Tumate Junior, 18, does for a living.
Akapusi is originally from Yadrana, Lakeba, Lau.
"I attended Uluiqalau Primary School and spent my secondary school years attending Ratu Finau Secondary School," he said last week.
Akapusi dropped out of school when in Form Five and aged 16.
He said he found school boring compared to staying at home with friends.
"Life was good staying in the village, especially having friends of the same age," he said.
"I found that going to school was no use since it was more fun being with my friends and I didn't have to do homework."
He said while in school he wanted to become a primary school teacher to help his parents and his three younger brothers.
When he left school, he helped his father planting cassava, taro, yaqona and vegetables.
As the eldest child in the family, his parents had great plans for him.
"When I approached my parents, telling them I no longer wanted to be in school, they said no.
"They told me to continue going to school.
"But peer pressure was so strong that I continued to stay out of school and started livng away from home
"I came to Suva without letting my parents know about it.
"They somehow found out that I was staying in Suva with one of my father's brother."
Akapusi said the idea of being a barrow boy came from his uncle who encouraged him to do something useful during the day instead of staying at home.
He said if the job went well he got $60 a day.
The money he earns, helps him set food on the table to feed the 10 people he's staying with in Delainavesi.
But earning cent is a competition with other like-minded young people.
"There are times when I go through difficulties but they allow me to discover new things in life," he said.
"Without patience and perseverance nothing can be achieved.
"They are the two keys in life that keep me going. To my brothers and sisters out there, try and finish your school and achieve your goals in order to be successful in life.
"There is nothing easy in this world, it requires a lot of sacrifices to be able to sail in a calm sea.
"Listen to your parents for their instructions are the best teachings in the world today."

Adapted from Fijitimes Online

MEET JOELI LEWAICEI OF WAILEVU, TUNULOA, CAKAUDROVE

AT the age of 23, Joeli Lewaicei is a big-time yaqona farmer and middleman in the province of Cakaudrove in Vanua Levu.
He sells on average, 200 to 300 kilograms of yaqona every week to markets in Viti Levu.
The lad of Wailevu Village by the Natewa Bay in the district of Tunuloa has a 20-acre farm where he plants yaqona and dalo.
"I have been a supplier for more than four years now.
"I buy yaqona from farmers in surrounding villages and sell it to markets in Viti Levu through my partner at Nadi market.
"Apart from buying yaqona from farmers, I also get my own supply from the farm and send across to my business partner in Nadi who is also from the village," Joeli said.
He said he could send one tonne of yaqona a month and earn very good money.
In a week, Joeli can earn about $6000 from selling 200kg to 300kg of yaqona at $28 to $30 a kilo of waka or lewena.
"It is good money and I have orders from clients in Savusavu and Labasa.
"I sell at a very cheap price so I think that contributes to the good earnings I receive in a week."
There are some buyers he calls "trusted clients" to whom he sends yaqona by courier and the clients deposit his money in his bank account.
"Most of my clients are in Labasa and Suva but most of my supply goes to my partner at Nadi market who we started the farm together in the village.
"We used to be unemployed but after we started our farm and decided that one of us go to Nadi to sell our yaqona to the markets in Viti Levu, we have seen our business grow each day."
After seeing their business thrive, Joeli believes there is no reason for youths in villages not to be without work and money.
"We have a lot of land in the village and if youths are going to the urban centres to look for a job, I believe they are being misled because the land offers more money then white collar jobs.
"Even people with white collar jobs come and ask for small loans from me.
"That speaks much of how rich the land is and even at this young age, I have started my savings.
"Once I have saved enough, I plan on returning to continue my studies at tertiary school."
Joeli said without the support and advice of the Ministry of Youth, his business would not be as successful as it is today.
"They encouraged me to start my own farm and make it bigger.
"They showed me how I could turn it into a successful business with my partner in Nadi and I owe the ministry a great deal for their help and advice."
For now, Joeli's yaqona farm and middleman business is earning him good money.
But as everyone else in the business know, it will require some hard work from the start before you can enjoy.
No doubt he has done the hard work and is now reaping the fruits of his labour.
Joeli is a good example to all young men in the village with land but nothing to do.
There is money in the land but first you have to work hard before you can get it.

Adapted from Fijitimes Online

MEET VULI KAU OF SALIA, NAYAU, LAU

BEING strapped to his grandmother's back while she climbed for safety during Cyclone Meli in 1979 was some-what a miracle for 30-year old Aca Gauna Vuli Kau who administers the Disaster Management Programme for Fiji Red Cross Society.

Originally from Salia Village on the island of Nayau, Vuli Gauna as he is commonly known experienced first-hand the destruction and fury of Cyclone Meli when he was only two years old.

Even at that tender age, most people would not remember what happened to them.

For Vuli, he was fortunate to have his grandmother relate the events of the natural disaster that changed the life of people on Nayau. However, Vuli's interesting upbringing is another fascinating phase of his life and the foundation which shaped his values and principles.

Born on May 18, 1977 in Suva, Vuli is the second of six children and they lived a typical village life where nothing was ever easy.

His mother was a housewife and his father was an average villager who cut copra to put food on the table.

However, food for them was plain tavioka and tea without sugar most times.

At that time, sugar was hard to get because there was a shortage or it was too expensive. He said being the second eldest he was left with the responsibility of caring for his two young sisters when his father went to the plantation or when his mother went fishing.

"In most families, the eldest or youngest child is always considered the family favourite and being the second eldest meant shouldering the responsibilities of the eldest child," Vuli said.

"I was not strong physically or tall.

"By contrast, I was a slim, short and weak boy.

I was not athletic and did not go with my father to the plantation because I could not hold the knife with a steady hand.

"I was what they called malai or weak but I didn't mind. My older brother was strong and favoured and I was like a girl in the family.

"I had to shoulder the responsibility of looking after my two sisters when my parents were away.

"I had to wake up in the morning to wash the pots and dishes, a chore for girls and women but I was given the task of washing the pots in the morning.

"I guess at that stage of my life, I learnt life's values and responsibilities."

Vuli moved to Suva in 1990 to attend secondary school and the changing lifestyle was a big challenge for him.

The cultural shock was almost too much for him but he managed to complete Form Six.

Several factors contributed to Vuli not doing well in Form Six, including behavioural change but by chance, he signed up to work as a volunteer for the Fiji Red Cross Society.

He worked his way up the ladder to where he is today and now, well established in his line of work, Vuli said he could not have asked for a better calling in life. His past experience and the adversity of village life have made him realise how life can suddenly become meaningful and full of hope for a bright future.

Adapted from Fijitimes Online