Fiji first hand

Ulrike Miehle is a teacher at Sydney’s German International School and recently spent a week in Fiji with one of her students Franziska. Here is her account of experiencing first hand the difference your generosity can make…

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

                                                                                                                                                       Nelson Mandela

This quote has been sticking to my computer at school for quite a while now. But since my visit to Fiji it has definitely a deeper meaning to me and I have personally seen now what it means to break the cycle of poverty through education.

For the girls in Fiji, education is not something you have automatically for granted. On the contrary for many girls going to school is still a privilege, one which can change their live forever. They dream about a better future and they know that being able to go to school will help them achieving their dreams and goals.

Some of the girls have to travel far to go to school and getting up at 4am in the morning to help preparing food for their families or to study before school is their usual daily routine. I was really touched by that and I can’t see any of my students or my 15 year old daughter agreeing to such a schedule.

It was great to experience the fruitful teamwork of teachers, girls and their families, and Urmila the in-country coordinator of a girl and her world. And I felt very blessed to see first hand what difference the support of a girl and her world makes for all the girls and families in the program.

The people I’ve met in Fiji have touched my heart sincerely and I will never forget about the thankful smiles, grateful words and gestures we received when visiting the girls and teachers at school, when meeting their families at home or while staying with lovely Urmila and her wonderful family.

A big thank you to a girl and her world for giving me the chance to travel to Fiji.

I have a new quote now sticking to my computer which says:  ‘You can never be a happy person unless you help and give back to others ’.   Urmila Prasad

Ulrike Miehle