Mothers usually put their goals and dreams at the back-burner because they want to ensure that others are taken care of.
However, Taina Raravula-Waqaliva tries to find ways around it without affecting her relationship with families and loved ones.
Taina, 38, is one of the first and youngest female environmental health officer to lead and manage the food unit at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. She and her team oversee the country’s wide range of food and safety work.
At home, with the help of her husband, she oversees the welfare of their three children and loved ones.
Originally from Muaira, Yasawa with maternal links to Sauniveuto Village in Deuba. Taina was raised by her maternal grandparents since 8-month old. Her four siblings stayed back in Lautoka with their parents.
“I vividly remember going to the Suva market with my grandmother to sell prawns, kavika (Malay apple) and moli as a source of money,” she said.
“Growing up, I hardly had presents given to me only during Christmas when my grandmother would buy me a dress, whenever we visited the Suva City.”
Taina said she vowed to make her grandparents proud, when she was strong enough to stand on her own, knowing the struggles and sacrifices they made for her.
Sadly, her grandmother, Ro Kalesi Radinamoto died in 2004, when she was still in high school. Taina attended primary school at Deuba District School and secondary education at Rampur College. She went on to complete Year 13 at Nasinu Secondary School.
“We used to pay for school fees and book fees — and I couldn’t attend school until my fees were paid,” she said.
My grandfather Semesa Buredua continued to look after me. Taina faced a setback when she did not get the marks required to study the courses of her choice, instead, she enroll for a certificate in public health at the Fiji School of Medicine (FSM).
Despite this not being her first choice, she found a reason to stay and foresaw a promising future.
However in her first year she faced financial constraints as a private student. With the guidance of the then head of school Navitalai Litidamu, Taina managed to secure a scholarship from the Fijian Affairs Board.
After graduating from certificate level, she pursued to attain her diploma at FSM.
She went on further to graduate with a bachelor of arts in environmental science in 2006 at the University of the South Pacific. Taina also added a post graduate certificate under her belt in 2018.
“At my first graduation, I never wore any new dress, shoes, garland and there was no big feast to celebrate my achievement,” she said.
“Those things did not matter to me because I was happy to graduate,” she said.
She said her career began when she secured a job as project officer at the food unit at MHMS in 2009.
She was confirmed in 2010 as a senior assistant health inspector. In 2018, Taina was approached to act as manager of the food safety unit and later took over the position in 2021.
Taina said she was well into a third child by this time and the pressure of motherhood almost cost her to abandon her career. But it was the support from family members and her husband that kept her focussed.
“Share your plan and dream with your loved ones, they will give you the space and solace you need,” Taina said.
In 2022, Taina became one of the chosen recipients for the Australian scholarship award to pursue a Masters in food science at the University of Melbourne and graduated last December.
Her grandfather who was around to witness her earlier accolades died in July last year.
“I am forever grateful to my grandparents who taught me how much one can achieve simply through struggle and perseverance.
Taina said it was an unreal and emotional experience when she stepped onto the podium at the University of Melbourne to receive her award.
“The journey from the village was not an easy one.
“It will not stop there. If I get another opportunity to learn and grow, I will take it,” Taina said.
