A YASAWA man who now lives in Australia says he wants to make a real difference in the lives of six young homeless boys because he grew up in a “broken” family.
Epeli Naivalu said when his father walked out of their lives and left his mother to take care of him and his five siblings on her own, they went through some very tough times.
“That’s why I came back to Fiji – with the change in government – I want to give back something to where it all started for me,” the Marist Brothers High School old boy said.
“I am eternally grateful to the Marist Brothers for allowing me to continue school even though I couldn’t pay my school fees.
“Because of their generosity, I finished high school, went to universities in Australia and New Zealand, completed four masters (degrees) and made something of myself.”
Mr Naivalu said he wanted to do the same for the six young boys he met on the streets in Suva who now call Thurston Gardens “home”.
The six, who did not give second names, are; Luke, 18 (on the streets for the past six years), Ilaitia, 18 (on the streets for the past four years), Epeli, 17 (on the streets for the past year), Jolame, 17 (on the streets for the past three years) and Peniasi, 16 (on the streets for the past four years) and Inia, 14 (on the streets for the past four years).
“These boys ended up here because of many reasons. Some of them have broken families, their dad is in jail, mum has a new partner who does not want any ‘baggage’, some come from very poor homes and actually beg in town to take home money so their family can survive.”
One such boy was 14-year-old Inia.
He said his family lived in Qauia and he lived on the streets so that he was not another mouth feed and a burden to them.
“Whatever I manage to get from generous people on the streets goes to my family, I do a small shopping and take it home so they have something to eat,” he said.
Inia said he was glad he met “father” (Mr Naivalu).
“He said that if we brush up on our reading, he will help us go back to school, and that’s what I really want to do. I want to study hard and go to university and see where that takes me in life.”
