Sunday 9 September 2018

Suicide Prevention Day by Herleen Emily


Today is world Suicide Prevention Day - this day is an awareness day observed on 10th September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. 
But do we really need a day to prove or show our commitment towards suicide? However, this is an international initiative to help spread awareness and prevent suicides. Every year, an unimaginable 800,000 people die by their own hands while twenty five times more than this number attempt suicide.
Providing a stable, safe physical and emotional home environment.
This may seem obvious but unfortunately this is not always the case as exemplified by the problem of homeless youths. With many families breaking up and dispute over the custody and access of children, the teenager may become the "pawn" of the parental battle. 
Spending quality time with young people.
"Quality time" is a cliche frequently used in child rearing literature and it is met with a certain degree of cynicism. However, a good relationship between a youth and his/her parents cannot occur unless they spend time together. It is common to hear parents and teenagers talk about their constant arguments about everything. The amount of time spent in conflict is huge. Why not spend some of this time having fun together? 
LISTENING to teenagers, not only to what is being said, but also to the covert messages.
Teenagers commonly complain that their parents are keen to give advice but they don't listen to their points of view. Messages sent by teenagers may at times be tangential, contradicting and confusing. Parents will need to "de-code" these scrambled messages to get in touch with their children's feelings. In many instances this may mean an interpretation of their body language. Non-verbal action can "talk" much louder than conversational language.  
Being supportive and not intrusive.
There is a fine line between being supportive and being intrusive. It is important for parents to acknowledge the upset and distress shown by their teenage children, but not interrogating and demanding to know the "secrets" of their distress. Teenagers will generally talk to their parents about their problems when they are ready. Respect the fact that they can solve many problems on their own without the support of others. Support is there for them to use but it must not be imposed on them. 
Encouraging the appropriate expression of emotions
Many teenagers tend to either hide their emotions or they show them in an explosive manner, thus leading to their parents' comments about their moodiness. Encourage them to show and share their feelings of joy, happiness, excitement in their successes. They can then show and share their sadness, anxiety, distress and disappointment. Both "positive" and "negative" feelings must be contained so that they are not running wild and out of control.  
Early Intervention in Stressful Situations
Severe emotional symptoms are frequently found in individuals facing or following significant life events. Youths facing court appearances, family break-up, important examinations or those who have been sexually abused, expelled from school, rejected by love ones are a few examples of common stressful situations to which young people are subjected.
Support from parents and others is particularly important to prevent despair and suicidal ideation. This can be achieved by being in touch with the youth's emotional state. Just because teenagers don't show their feelings readily, it does not mean that they are not concerned about impending major life events or feel distressed after a personal disaster. Have empathy with them. They want to be understood by their parents. Sensitive listening and appropriate advice or debriefing will help.
The successful negotiation and resolution of a stressful situation can be a confidence booster to the youth.
Take Suicidal Threats Seriously
Whether a youth has "genuine" suicidal intent or not, take all suicidal threats seriously. Don't trivialize any suicidal threat. In many instances, the threat is a cry for help - "I am not coping". If this is ignored, the youth may decide to act out his/her threat. It is much safer to be cautious.
Early detection and management of psychiatric illness.
Like suicide, psychiatric illnesses carry with them stigmas and myths. Many major psychiatric disorders, e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar affective illness and anorexia nervosa have their onset in adolescence. Drug induced psychosis is another important condition in this age group. These conditions, which are responsive to treatment, carry with them a higher risk of suicide if they are not managed early and appropriately.
Without describing each psychiatric condition in detail, the following symptoms should be taken seriously by parents:
§     Severe and persistent depressive mood
§     Severe agitation and panic attacks
§     Hallucination - The hearing of "voices" or seeing things in the absence of external stimulus.
§     Delusion - a fixed and false belief system that is alien to the person's family and cultural background.
§     Grossly elated mood
§     The excessive pre-occupation with certain ideas (e.g. cleanliness or body weight) to the point of affecting the person's daily functioning.
The presence of any of these symptoms may indicate the onset of an underlying psychiatric illness. With the support and encouragement of parents, the youth may agree to professional advice. A proper assessment is required to plan ways to help the young person.
Appropriate intervention after a suicide attempt.
All suicide attempts should be taken seriously, particularly if the youth has planned the suicide. Don't dismiss the attempt as an attention seeking behavior. The seriousness of the attempt is related to the intent of the youth rather than the method of self harm. Proper assessment is required after the attempt and this will generally mean professional intervention.
Apart from the suicidal youth, parents and other family members will also need a great deal of support and their needs must not be forgotten.
Parents can do several things to help their teenager after a suicide attempt:
§     Ensure the physical safety of the teenager.
§     Be available to support the teenager.
§     Be caring but don't be over-protective.
§     Close observation but not being intrusive.
§     Return to routine as soon as practical.
§     Removal of potentially dangerous substance/weapon.
§     Discuss issues relating to the attempt only at the initiative of the youth, i.e. no interrogation.
§     Seek help and advice. Don't sweep the problems "under the carpet".
Be vigilant of changes in behavior.
Be wary if there is a sudden excessive elevation of the youth's mood in someone who was previously severely depressed. This does not necessarily mean that the youth is getting better. The youth may have in fact finally decided to commit suicide and there is a sense of relief and therefore the improved mood and activity level. The youth may give away his/her precious possessions or ask the parents to go out so that he/she can carry out the suicide act.
A teenager who is grossly agitated is also at risk. The agitation can be caused by drug, depression, anxiety or psychosis. In this instance, the suicide act may be the youth's attempt to relieve the internal distress and agitation. Watch out for the youth who paces the floor and acts like a "cat on a hot tin roof".
Seek advice or help from professionals if in doubt.
It is not easy for parents to come to accept that their teenager is emotionally troubled, not to mention suicide attempt. Parents tend to blame themselves and ask themselves many "if only" and "why" questions. Professional assistance is frequently required for not only the teenager, but also the family. Clinical psychologists, general medical practitioners, psychiatrists, and competent youth counselors are some professionals who are available for consultation and advice if there is any doubt that a youth is at risk of suicide.
An 11-year-old boy of Kadavu is Fiji’s latest suicide victim. In an earlier case, a 17-year-old boy committed suicide inside a school dormitory on the island of Ovalau on August 28. A total of 62 suicide cases have been recorded so far this year compared to 51 for the same period last year while 72 attempted suicide cases have been reported this year compared to 68 cases last year. In light of the rising number of cases, Fiji Police Force’s spokesperson Ana Naisoro is asking members of the public to share their problems and learn to reach out when in need.

In most cases of suicide a person doesn’t wants to die; they just want the pain to stop.
To anyone out there who’s hurting- It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. It’s a sign of strength! There are far, far better things ahead than anything we leave behind. When it is darkest, we can see the stars.  Suicide doesn’t end the chances of life getting worse; it eliminates the possibility of it ever getting any better. Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.   

Wednesday 15 August 2018

Youths challenge Corruption!

By Herleen Emily
On the occasion of international Youths Day, the young people of ‘Youths for Integrity’ took up the challenge to fight against corruption and promote integrity. 
Youths for Integrity hosted an event at USP on Friday August 10, 2018 inviting young people from various backgrounds to share light on integrity.

The team also launched their poetry book ‘Na Dina Anthology’ written by some of the old members of the network. 

‘Na Dina’ means truth in the native Fijian language, it means the willingness of the heart to say and do what is right and reasonable.

Na Dina Anthology has 11 collections of original poems which empowers people to stand up for the virtues of trust, respect and honesty.

Some of the lines from the poem ‘The Reality’ really emotes the courage to stand up and voice against corruption. As it says,

“The time has come for us to make a change,

For us to make a difference,

The time has come for our stand

Let us not waste it.”

The poems are written in three languages that is I-taukei, Hindi and English.

The event was graced by the USP rugby players who shared their views on corruption, integrity and transparency.

The President of FNU Nabua campus, Jone Lovo said that ‘the event was really informative and educational as young people were sharing their views on issues that are sensitive yet crucial to speak about.’

Apart from launching the book, the team also celebrated the International Youths Day, as this year’s theme for the International Youth Day was Safe Spaces; young people present at the event highlighted some of the ways young people can create safe spaces in their communities.

“The theme for International Youth Day reflected the event on Saturday. Young people everywhere are networking with potential collaboration in sharing and creating awareness on Corruption such as the sporting bodies,” said Jofiliti Veikoso the Project Officer of Save the Children, Western Division.

“He further mentioned that, ‘It would be great to bring International National Youth Day again as a public holiday so that there is more visibility of young people and their contribution to society.”
By: Herleen Emily

Sunday 29 July 2018

Awareness on Congenital Heart Disease

Herleen Emily
Bula! Friends, Today, I thought of writing about congenital heart disease, an illness that is not usually talked about due to its rareness. As of 2017, 200 children have been born with congenital heart disease in Fiji and it is really important for pregnant women to be aware of this disease to prevent it at an early stage. 
As of such, not many people in Fiji are aware about congenital heart disease and time and again it is the responsibility of respective authorities to reach out to more parents especially in the rural areas.
congenital heart defect (CHD), also known as a congenital heart anomaly or congenital heart disease, is a problem in the structure of the heart that is present at birth. Signs and symptoms depend on the specific type of problem.[3] Symptoms can vary from none to life-threatening.
Congenital Heart Disease is a general term for a range of birth defects that affect the normal workings of the heart. The term “congenital” means the condition is present at birth.
 What are the causes of congenital heart disease?
·         The heart defect may run in families.
·         Taking certain prescription drugs during pregnancy puts a child at a higher risk for a heart defect.
·         Using alcohol or illegal drugs during pregnancy can increase a child’s risk of having a heart defect.
·         Mothers who had a viral infection during the first trimester of pregnancy are more likely to give birth to a child with a heart defect.
·         Increased blood sugar levels, such as occurs with diabetes, may affect childhood development
 What are the Symptoms of Congenital heart disease?
·         bluish lips, skin, fingers, and toes
·         breathlessness or trouble breathing
·         feeding difficulties
·         low birth weight
·         chest pain
·         delayed growth
·         abnormal heart rhythms
·         dizziness
·         trouble breathing
·         fainting
·         swelling
·         fatigue
How to prevent congenital heart disease?
- If you’re planning on becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you’re taking.


- If you have diabetes, make sure your blood sugar levels are under control before becoming pregnant. It’s also important to work with your doctor to manage the disease while pregnant.
- If you weren’t vaccinated against rubella, or German measles, avoid exposure to the disease and speak with your doctor about prevention options.
- If you have a family history of congenital heart defects, ask your doctor about genetic screening. Certain genes may contribute to abnormal heart development.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs during pregnancy.
Whoever is reading this, I hope that you have become aware about congenital heart disease. Please, spread the word as it is becoming very common in unborn children. Save a life! This letter is dedicated to all the parents who have lost their child through congenital heart disease.
By: Herleen Emily. 

Saturday 17 March 2018

Jone Siqila: “Youths for Integrity” Role Model

As I enter his room to take my laptop, I just make the right amount of noise to let him know of my presence. As I turn, I see his dad standing in the doorway and he asks me politely if Junior should be woken up.  I firmly say that he should sleep. As I walk out Jone Siqila whispers, “Dr V!” A pause. “May you live long!”
Jone Siqila is like a rare bird you find as you walk up a mountain forest to be pleasantly greeted by the bird nestled on a rock close to a cool spring. This analogy also reflects Jone’s adventurous nature as he organizes the Youths for Integrity climate change / environment programs that result in mountain hikes either in Mt Korobaba or Coloisuva or other locations and the refreshing swim in the cool waterfalls or beaches. The films and pictures that result from these outings are produced by Jone. (He now works for FBC TV and this blog piece covers the period before he joined FBC.)
After writing so many stories about youth leaders in the national print media and on the YFI blog I received persistent queries from youths asking when I would get around to writing about Jone Siqila. The delay has partly been due to his humility.  I had asked to write his story so many times and he had requested for more time to think about it and it was only recently that he agreed.

I first met Jone in 2013 when I volunteered for an NGO called Transparency Fiji. Prior to that, Jone had worked at ANZ in the marketing department. At that time I did part time work as a lecturer and did some Board work. At TF, I worked with Jone on national surveys, civic education workshops and producing films on integrity and anti-corruption. The work on civic youth leadership later extended to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Youth Council and UNDP. These assignments took us all over Fiji. Three youth personalities (amongst the many) that stood out in their support of Jone’s work were Ratu Wiliame Nayacatabu, Tupou Nawaikula and Emily Erasito.
Jone is from Bau with maternal links to Rotuma. His mum is Tongan. He has three brothers; Kauata, Bill and Taniela with Jone being the youngest. When we first met, we had spoken to each other in English. I though he was Samoan and he thought I was from Tuvalu.

His Polynesian looks can have its funny moments. In a Tailevu village, some ladies asked in the iTaukei language (in his presence) if he ate rourou and other iTaukei foods. We had to explain that he is from Bau and most certainly eats all local foods! I have also had the situation of people asking me politely how my son was. After seeing my quizzical look, they would describe Jone and I would explain that we are work colleagues. His dad is handsomer! “But you are also handsome,” they often say. “You are too kind,” I reply sincerely.
Jone is very humble, hard-working and is a great role model for young people. He has a talent for producing short films that create impact on viewers in terms of getting across the messages of Integrity portrayed in them. He had attended the CPAC film production training conducted by Macquarie University in Tahiti and came back with valuable skills that matched his personal talent. One of our great music videos on Integrity starring Samu Walosio and Lusi Tupou was produced by Jone. All of our flash mobs, role plays were also choreographed by him.

The many young people who have gone through YFI trainings and have been inculcated film editing and production skills can thank Jone for those skills. I got to writing most of the films produced by Jone because he had taught me script writing skills.
One of the humorous side effects of working with him is that almost everyone thinks we are usually together. I will get phone calls or FB inboxes asking for his phone number or his whereabouts. When I am in the West or any other part of Fiji, youths will invariably ask me how Jone is and request that I give him their warmest regards. The requests can also come from unusual places! I had gone to watch a movie at Village 6 and in the packed crowd, a NYCF rep from Levuka asked me in a loud voice how Jone Siqila was. “He’s okay,” I blurted out the first thing that came to my mind. All the bystanders looked intently at me with eyes that were like sharp drills to see if there was a hint of sensitivity or delicateness in my demeanor. I had told Jone (drily) that with so many people asking me about him I should be his Manager! That might not be a bad idea, he quipped!

Dokanaisuva where Jone lives is a centre for Youths for Integrity training programs. The Australian High Commission had renovated their MYF Hall. This means that I and other facilitators and participants are billeted in homes including Jone’s.
He now works for FBC TV and speaks highly and is very grateful of the mentoring role provided by Andhy Blake.

His tight schedule means that he often is excluded from current YFI trainings and often sleeps late especially in the weekends. As I enter his room to take my laptop I just make the right amount of noise to let him know of my presence. As I turn, I see his dad standing in the doorway and he asks me politely if Junior should be woken up.  I firmly say that he should sleep.
As I walk out Jone Siqila whispers, “Dr V!” A pause. “May you live long!”

Sunday 4 February 2018

Fiji’s World Rugby Sevens Bid #Fijifor7s

Joseph Veramu
Two things have come out clearly from FRU’s bid to host a tournament in the World Rugby Sevens Series in 2019-2020. First, the public spat with Ben Ryan may not necessarily be a bad thing given the international publicity the bid has generated. Second, there appears to be a growing external perception that Fiji needs to be seriously considered in its bid. The South China Morning Post, for example, quotes Referee Rasta Rasivhenge as acknowledging that, “it would be the greatest thing in the world” for a World Sevens Tournament to be held in Fiji.
The same article also notes that, “while all the challenges must certainly be given their due consideration, overall one can’t help but feel that the World Series simply must come here at some stage, preferably sooner rather than later. Fiji is the heartbeat of World Sevens and it’s time to take the game at the highest level back to the people that love it most.”

Rugby like religion is a highly charged topic with everyone holding very strong emotional views. I say this with dread because I now must bring up for discussion the issue of FRU’s bid and Ben Ryan refusal to support it. I use the word ‘dread’ because in the fast moving landscape of national rugby, public opinion is so fluid that I might wake up in the morning to find myself (on social media) transformed into Darth Vader or (if teenagers are involved) Lord Voldermort!

The FRU had alerted Ben Ryan in August 2017 seeking his support for the World Seven bid. Ryan had declined. The FRU had nevertheless decided to go ahead. Ryan has written on his Facebook page that he did not back Fiji’s bid because the costs were high and it would not be possible to make a profit. He said that overseas consultants had requested $1 million to prepare the bid. He also questioned why FRU was wasting money with media ads. The FRU defended itself saying that the figures quoted as the cost of the bid were greatly exaggerated and were not factual. The FRU also clarified that all TV and radio advertisements are being provided free of charge to support the national bid. Media outlets have clarified that they are running the FRU bid ads as a free public service.

Sports tourism is a huge money earner for Fiji. There are big investments in sports facilities throughout the nation and in hosting various international events. As the Americans say, to make money you have to spend money. While the investment may not yield immediate returns, they will eventually do so. Part of this strategy involves the Fiji International Golf Event, the hosting of a Super Rugby match and the World Rugby Sevens bid 2019 - 2020. The Pan - Pacific Swimming Championship, 2019 IWF World Junior Weightlifting Championships and the 2021 INF World Under-20 Netball Cup are happening in Fiji. Fiji will also host the 21st InterHash Super Meet in Nadi this year. This will involve 4000 overseas participants.

It appears that prior to World Rugby bid, there had been some friction between FRU and Ryan which probably could have been ironed out with some good old fashioned talanoa. The friction started after the Rio Olympics win when Ryan had been asked to continue as Fiji’s 7s coach. He had declined preferring to take up new challenges. The FRU thinking was that Ryan had ‘moved on’ meaning that was the end of him as far as Fiji rugby was concerned and FRU would work things out with a new coach. Ryan however had a different perspective feeling that he owed the Fijian rugby loving public a duty to continue to push for the development of the sport locally and internationally.

Ryan was a kind of HSBC ambassador for the sport starting in 2016. In this capacity it appeared that Ryan felt he could continue to support Fiji rugby development. Within this notion, he continued to be critical of challenges like the need to have contracts and better pay for Sevens players even suggesting that they form a franchise.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported in early 2017 that Ryan is passionate about a Super Rugby team based in Fiji. In November 2016 he suggested a AUS$33 million proposal for a franchise to play in a 20,000-seat stadium on Denarau. FRU had pointed out that they had not been involved in these discussions. Reuters reported in February 2017 that SANZAAR CEO Andy Marinos commented (SANZAAR is the body which operates Super Rugby) that "It seems strange that there is a campaign being led by Ben Ryan, mainly in the press, that could impact directly on Super Rugby and yet SANZAAR is completely in the dark about the proposal. SANZAAR would welcome a conversation and is very open to talking with Ben or any of his associates on his proposed plan should he choose to engage with us."

Ryan appears sincere about making rugby a lucrative income earner not just for Fijians but Pacific Islanders. The best way forward for Ben Ryan is to constructively engage with FRU at an interpersonal level rather than on social media and possibly work in partnership with them.  Reuters reports that SANZAAR might be amenable to discussions for an expansion to the tournament at the end of the current TV deal in 2020. FRU would need to be involved in any of these discussions and take the lead role. It will need all the support it can get. A better approach would be to engage directly with FRU rather than on social media.

Saturday 27 January 2018

An Allegorical Tale of Trust

by Torika Dokoni Vosavakadua (Read her inspiring blog: https://torikavosavakadua.wordpress.com/
She was stunned when she first came across it — a beautiful, delicate, small flower pushing through the hard earth. The Creator said it represented her heart. He had warned her she would feel pain as it grew, but she would experience deep joy as well.
Her Creator — whose eyes were continuously on her — smiled with joy when He saw her notice the flower peeking through the earth.

As she viewed it, she grimaced, recalling the intense, sharp pain she felt when the Creator worked to plant the seed into the hardened earth. Afterward, it throbbed, a dull and steady pain. She often doubted the love the Creator proclaimed to have for her. Why must it hurt so?

After He planted it, she would often visit the sacred plot. “I don’t see anything growing,” she would tell Him. He would look at her with eyes full of intense love, and he would say, “Wait and trust Me.”

She waited, often in disappointment because what she longed to see was slow in growing. She could feel the roots deepening, though the flower had yet to be seen. So she continued on the path the Creator led her down, and with every disappointment along the way, the roots of the plant deepened.

One morning, quite unexpectedly, she glimpsed a flower pushing through the earth.  Its petals were a vibrant blue with violet tips and a yellow-white center. It was no ordinary flower. The petals appeared sturdy, and the stem was encased in an intricate sleeve laced with gold and silver.

“Its name is Trust,” said the Creator as she knelt by the flower, examining the beautiful petals.

The Creator chuckled when He saw the delicate way she examined the flower. He knew the flower’s petals would not be torn — they could not be torn. But she was not as confident.

After a thorough inspection, she said, “It’s small but strong.” She paused, hesitating. “It is beautiful, but it is so small … I endured so much pain to grow it. Shouldn’t it be bigger?”

The Creator smiled. “No, Beloved, that will come. Growth will be a little easier now. It will grow into a large, strong and beautiful flower in time.”
They sat together in silence for some time. She continued to examine the flower, transfixed.

Finally, the Creator asked her, “Did you feel it when the roots grew?”

She nodded. “Oh yes, I felt it during difficult and painful circumstances.”

“Yes, Trust is difficult to grow in some of my children. The roots must make it through the very hard ground of unbelief. It is a very painful process for you and for Me.”

“Where did the roots go?”

They were growing toward the Spring of Living Water. That spring is what’s needed to sustain it. I had to send many storms to soften the hard ground, so the roots could make it to the spring.”

She nodded and quietly reflected on the trust that was slowly but surely overriding the doubt, confusion and pain that frequently attacked her.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, recalling a verse from the Creator’s sacred text: “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).

Tuesday 23 January 2018

Queen Esther’s Inspirational Stories

Yes she has friends,  Yes she has family,  Yes she has best friends; she’s strong, smart, beautiful, she’s just 21 but she’s also  a fighter...
We are reprinting excerpts from Esther Daveta’s Blog (Queen Esther). It contains stories to inspire, written with heartfelt emotions to give hope….that spoken words cannot describe. PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK:  https://life9056.wordpress.com/
Dr V says, "Had I read these inspirational stories as a teenager I would have navigated life's many challenges more constructively! Be inspired to write narratives of your life's journeys through personal blogs."
A fighter who’s trying to uphold Godly values and morale. It’s hard being a ‘young ‘kirei' (beautiful-Japanese ) Fijian buiniga ’21’ girl with values and godly principles to uphold and stand for.
“Wow, she used to do this before, she was the one who….”,
“Is she really not gonna come with us to the club to celebrate ‘Lu’s 21st'”...
They all ridiculed her and stomped her with ‘her past’. This did not break her down but made her stronger than she was before. Lost some of her friends, her old habits, even the young blonde man that had promised to never leave her, left.
She realized friends, family & even the guy who said he’ll take a bullet for her,  causes you more pain than a bullet, will never keep their promises at times and that God is forever faithful.
Thing is society, has imprinted the thought that we should take revenge on those that have hurt us, that we should hate them, curse them & ignore them.  That’s what society, this world wants us to DO.
But as a young woman and man of God, what would you do. Like for real?
Be honest here! What would you actually do?
Now take that thought and compare of what WOULD Jesus do, more like what DID Jesus DO? *deep sigh* yeah, that’s right. He forgave. He showed love to those that cursed him & he hung on that rugged cross with OUR endless sins with him,  as his blood shed down his nailed feet. That’s what he did for US. That’s why, personally it’s hard to portray the ‘WWJD’ [what would Jesus do] act as young as myself.
People will talk about you, ridicule you, bring up your past against you, even backstab you; But you stand strong,  you fix your eyes on the cross, because thing is, we were never promised  a smooth road. Standing for Jesus, standing for this amazing God is hard but is worth every second of my life.  
Esther pictured with friends at the National Youth Leaders Camp held in Navoci Nadi on Jan 11-13, 2018
Yes, we have our own weaknesses but this doesn’t stop us from proclaiming God’s grace that we don’t deserve & his eternal love. I fell, I came back up, I failed, I came back up, again & again & again & again. A Champion doesn’t give up! 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 (For when I am weak, then I am strong ). Try this God. Have a meaningful personal relationship with the risen Christ.
Believe me, he will use you for the greater things ahead of you, because he is doing so for me.💕✊//

Thursday 18 January 2018

Overcoming Challenges and Developing One’s Full Potential: The Story of Joeli Bili

by Joseph Veramu
 One powerful impression I got after getting acquainted with Joeli Bili is that personal challenges are an integral part of our daily lives. However if we have a positive attitude, trust in God to deal with our problems and put our hearts and minds into succeeding, we will achieve our goals.
The Youths for Integrity Network has been an important part of Joeli’s life. He shares that, “I am a living testimony and am forever grateful for my involvement with YFI which has enabled me to come out of my comfort zone and successfully get this job. The YFI workshops are very helpful in making us articulate our views and gain confidence.”
Joeli applied for a civil service job with the Ministry of Economy and was successful. Just a week ago, he was promoted from an Information Officer to a Training Officer. He admits that with so many youths applying for fewer job opportunities, one needs to stand out in the crowd in the sense that one must exude confidence, be articulate, have self-initiative and be imbued with the values of integrity. Of course, since youths are going through their own self-journeys, they will face many personal hardships and that is where one’s spiritual life becomes very important. Alluding to his own example, he says, “We can do all things through God who strengthens us.”
Joeli hails from Lakeba, Lau, from the village of Yadrana with maternal links to Waitabu. He was raised in a very conservative Christian milieu and his family has motivated, inspired and shaped his character building him to become the person that he is today. One important lesson from his family is that one must work hard to develop one’s full potential. This is an affirming message he wants to share with all youths in Fiji and beyond. “Although my parents have raised me in a very conservative setting with very strict conditions, I am deeply grateful to them as it has allowed me to keep track of my goals in life and not being swayed away by unnecessary things.”
Joeli admits that when he was child, he always wanted to become a teacher, seeing it as very appealing especially in shaping future leaders. However, as he grew to adolescence and young adulthood, his interests changed to social science studies.
Currently, he is undertaking degree extension studies in Journalism and Political Science at USP. He says that he “enjoyed it. Last year, I got to experience studying and working at the same time. I love it and encourage young people to excel in their education and try to further their studies whenever they can. I’ve seen for myself how often people would say “I can’t study cause I’ve got full time work.”  I would challenge this thinking! When you have the will, nothing is impossible. I still even got A+ while I’m working! It all comes down to time-management and making the right choices.“
Close friends of Joeli describe him as someone who values serving others and is actively involved in community work. A normal weekly schedule for Joeli would be : Monday to Friday are work days, Saturday is attending to school work and other youth engagements and Sunday is mentoring with students at St. Christopher’s Home through the Mentor Me Fiji Foundation. He is very heavily occupied but even with these tight schedules, he still manages to have fun and have a few bottles of wine with friends!
Joeli admits that, “Life is not about making yourself busy, it’s about making yourself happy. So whatever we do, we should always be happy and know that our Heavenly Father loves us and has a plan of salvation for everyone. So be happy, for God is great and he hears our prayers.”
On the topic of Volunteering Joeli says, “People often have the perspectives that volunteering for a worthy cause is a waste of time mainly because it is unpaid work. But to get a job easily nowadays, I would highly recommend youths to grab internship and volunteering opportunities. It’s not only about serving others but getting to know the real person you are as well as keeping your CV filled with constructive experiences.
Joeli is a private student at USP which means that his studies are self-funded. He admits that, “There came the time where I had to look for a job to help in financing my studies and there were many days when I really faced a lot of challenges. Now that I have secured a job as Information Officer, I am happy as the saying goes “To get to the rose, we have to come across thorns. We should never lose hope as the road is still long to be discovered.”
Joeli says that he has had to learn to be “open-minded in getting to impart issues such as human rights to his close friends and relatives. Joeli admits that the culture of silence is indeed a social issue in itself. “To some of the people close to me, Human Rights is something like the name of Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter movies that cannot be mentioned under any circumstances. I have had to tell them that human rights issues need to be discussed honestly and openly.”
Joeli’s advice to young people, “Live your life to the fullest, be happy and never lose hope in whatever your wildest dreams are. We are too young to live sad lives! But whatever you do, remember there is a Living God and always give thanks to him even for the very little achievements you have gained.”
A Note from Dr V: “Joeli is one of our very successful youth leaders having actively taken part in YFI events and the National Youth Parliament. He is very generous and has helped to fund three workshops for disadvantaged youths (even though he only had part time work at that time).
Joeli also has a reputation as a great debater and his Oceania Arts and Culture Studies debate team was declared the champions after winning the final debating contest at the 2017 USP FALE Debate Series. One big lesson I have learnt from Joeli is that we must have a positive attitude, persevere in our goals and trust in Jehovah through the risen Christ.”
Blog piece by J Veramu

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