Leila strives for a brighter future

In the heart of rural Fiji, amidst the daily struggles and hardships, Leila holds onto her dreams with unwavering determination. 

From the early hours of the morning till the late hours of the evening, she works hard to pursue her education, her aspirations reaching beyond the confines of her village.

Despite the challenges she faces – from floods disrupting her daily routine to the financial strain on her family – Leila remains focused on her goal of completing high school, while her younger sister finishes primary school. 

She loves learning and immerses herself in her studies whenever she can. 

At night Leila studies using a kerosene lamp, she knows it’s important to complete her homework and stay on top of her studies, so she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get good grades. 

In Fiji, all children have access to education, but the quality varies depending on where the school is located – there’s a vast difference between rural and urban schools. 

Although public education is free, there are still a lot of costs associated with getting to school including uniforms, books and the cost of private buses to travel long distances from home to school.  

Primary school is compulsory for all children and includes maths, English, health sciences, social sciences, music, and physical education. 

In high school both Maths and English are compulsory, however other classes include Fijian, Hindu, woodworking, metal work, home economics, chemistry and physics.

Fiji is also a country that embraces the outdoor lifestyle and healthy living. Sport is a big part of the culture and it all begins at school. 

Although the government provides basic funding for schools, resources are stretched and most public schools are subsidised by community organisations or religious institutions.

Students in rural areas are more likely to drop out of school early and this is often due to costs and the distance students have to travel. 

So Leila feels fortunate to be at school and have access to education, she enjoys studying English and home economics.

We partnered with her family earlier this year to ensure she had new school uniforms, shoes and books. 

But there are so many others like Leila who are facing huge challenges in their daily lives and have to make the decision between studying and supporting their family. 

We want to help Girls thrive and we partner with them and their families to ensure Girls have access to education or with small business grants and training and with their health and wellbeing.

With your support, we can continue to ensure that Girls like Leila break through the barriers to education and follow their dreams to become who they are meant to be.