Anaseini Qeleca’s love and passion for her students speak volumes of her desire to see that they are not denied the best possible start in life.
When she was transferred to the Vaturu District School in Nadi last year, she saw the state of hostel beddings for these male primary school students and requested for assistance from the Kimaya Brighter Minds Trust, a leading management and hospitality company.
Ms Qeleca is the headteacher at the school with a roll of 48 students, mostly from nearby villages of Natawa and Nagado in the interior of Nadi.
In an interview with this newspaper yesterday, Ms Qeleca said it was during the school’s awards ceremony last December that she made a heartfelt request to the chairman of the Kimaya Brighter Minds Trust, Damend Gounder, a well-known figure in Fiji’s tourism industry, with the assistance of Fiji Airways to transport the new bunk beds from Australia.
“The students were lying on wooden beds which had been infested with bed bugs,” she said.
“So, these beds were taken out, and a thin rug was brought in and spread out on the floor for students to sleep on with their mattresses.
“There was a group of new teachers who came in last year, and we really felt for the children.
“Especially during rainy and cold weather when it was our turn to be on duty in the hostel, we came to check on these boys, and we felt sorry for them.”
Ms Qeleca said the school was fortunate to be part of the partnership program organised by the Kimaya Brighter Minds Trust.
“The Kimaya group chose the school to have its annual awards for those children who were part of the program as two of our teachers were sent to be part of the workshop.
“And everything was funded by the Kimaya Brighter Minds Trust for the awards day.”
Ms Qeleca said she felt the need to pose their request to the founder, Mr Gounder, for a new set of beds for the 22 male students.
“So, we made the request and he told us ‘ I will do it’.
“During the holidays we followed up on our request and they kindly responded via email.
“They asked for a proper request, black and white document with the school logo, so I did it during the school holidays.
Ms Qeleca said when the students saw the new set of double bunk beds last Thursday, it was like a dream come true for the youngsters.
“The children were very excited when they saw the beds, as they were looking forward to seeing the beds.
“We are still in the process of labelling the beds and mattresses.”
She said the school management was sceptical about idea coming to fruition.
“During one of our hostel meetings with the parents and CAPS, the thought of purchasing beds for the students came up.
“I told them we had sent our request to the Kimaya group, but it was still in the pipeline, and we never knew that it would become a reality.
“So, now we have the set of bunk beds, and I would say that we are so blessed for a school that is in the interior to be given these new beds.”
Ms Qeleca said the next project would be the upgrading of the girl’s hostel with bunk beds and painting works of both the male and female hostels.
She said Mr Gounder had also promised to supplement the school’s food supply.
The school community is pleased to know that Mr Gounder, who was present at the awards ceremony last year, heard firsthand about the hardships faced by the boarding students and is now committed to providing assistance.
“It is our duty to stand alongside communities that face hardship in their pursuit of education,” Mr Gounder said.
“When we heard that children were sleeping on mats on the floor and struggling with basic needs, we knew we had to act. These students deserve dignity, comfort, and the opportunity to focus fully on their learning.”
Mr Gounder added that a child who sleeps well learns better.
“Providing proper beds and rations is not simply about comfort; it is about restoring dignity and creating an environment where these children can excel in the classroom.
“Education must not be compromised by circumstances beyond their control.”
Mr Gounder also acknowledged the vital support of partners who helped make the initiative possible.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to Fiji Airways for assisting with the transportation of the beds, and to Mr Ashok Reddy of Reddy’s General Services and Gibson Freight for their dedication in managing the logistics. This is what community partnership looks like.”
The trust remains committed to uplifting underserved schools and ensuring that children across Fiji are given both the educational tools and living conditions necessary to succeed.
