FOR Nafitalai Qereiwasa, helping children has never been about recognition. It has always been about making a difference.
Today, the third-year MBBS student at the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Fiji National University serves as the Organising Committee Chairperson for Vision Fiji’s Fiji Children’s Award – a role that represents a remarkable full-circle moment in his journey of service.
Just four years ago, Nafitalai stood on the other side of the stage as a recipient of the Fiji Children’s Award in 2022 while he was in Form 6.
Now, he is helping identify and celebrate the next generation of young changemakers across Fiji.
It is a full-circle moment for Nafitalai.
He never imagined that one day he would be part of the very organisation that recognised his work as a teenager.
Nafitalai’s passion for helping others emerged during one of the most challenging periods in recent history, the COVID-19 pandemic.
At just 15 years old, while many students were adjusting to lockdowns and remote learning, Nafitalai noticed something troubling in his neighbourhood.
Children who were already struggling academically were falling even further behind as schools remained closed.
“I saw that the lockdown had a negative effect on children’s education,” he said.
“Children who struggled academically were now being left even further behind during the pandemic.”
Coming from a modest background himself, Nafitalai understood the transformative power of education.
“I don’t come from a well-off background, but I performed well academically and I believe education can change someone’s future, no matter the background they come from,” he said.
Determined to make a difference, he began tutoring a young neighbour who was in Class Five and struggling with basic mathematics concepts such as multiplication and division.
What started as helping one child soon grew into something much bigger.
Recognising the growing need for educational support, Nafitalai launched an initiative called Just Learn, providing tutoring sessions to primary school students affected by the lockdowns.
“I knew primary school subjects well enough to help,” he said.
“I started with my neighbour, then other students wanted assistance too.”
Using Facebook, he created a page to connect with students and families seeking support.
He conducted online tutoring sessions, charging a small fee of $5 per week to help cover the cost of mobile data needed to run the classes.
“At just 15 years old, I was like a teacher helping children during the pandemic,” he said.
As word spread, his reach extended beyond his neighbourhood. He began teaching children from his church and students from his village who were living in Suva.
Driven by a simple belief that no child should be left behind, Nafitalai dedicated countless hours to helping students continue learning during one of the most disruptive periods in their education.
Importantly, he said his motivation was never about awards or recognition.
“I didn’t even know there was a Fiji Children’s Award,” he said.
“I was just doing it because there needed to be a solution for children who were being left behind in their lessons because of the pandemic.”
His commitment to serving children eventually led him to broader community work, including involvement with the Foundation for the Education of Needy Children in Fiji (FENC Fiji) and Vision Fiji’s Fiji Children’s Award program.
Today, as the first member of his family to enter medical school, Nafitalai continues to be driven by the same desire to serve others that inspired him during the pandemic.
His experiences have reinforced his belief that empowering children through education can transform lives and communities.
He also believes the Fiji Children’s Award plays a vital role in inspiring young people across the country.
“The Fiji Children’s Award is important because it inspires young people through the achievements of other young people,” he said.
“When children see others making a difference, they realise they can do the same.”
From tutoring a single neighbour during lockdown to leading the program that celebrates Fiji’s young changemakers, Nafitalai Qereiwasa’s journey demonstrates how one young person’s commitment to helping others can create a lasting impact.
