Vaseva Nailaba believes in her heart as an educator, that when working with young children, it becomes more than just a profession but a duty and calling.
Family, experience and a belief that the earliest years of a child’s life lay the foundation for everything that follows are what inspired her to the field she now serves in.
Originally from Rewasa Village in Ra, Vaseva has maternal links to Bua in Vanua Levu.
She was born and raised in Lautoka before attending St Thomas High School and later the University of the South Pacific.
Her journey as an educator has taken her beyond Fiji’s shores.
Before moving to the Marshall Islands, she taught at the USP Educare Centre.
She then spent almost 10 years teaching in elementary schools and at Assumption School, a private Catholic school in the Marshall Islands.
Vaseva returned to Fiji in November last year and continued her work in early childhood education.
This year marks her first as head teacher of Etina Havea Kindergarten which is a role she described as challenging but rewarding.
“It has been quite challenging. I have been improving along the way,” she said.
One of the challenges has been adapting to Fiji’s early childhood curriculum, Noda Mataniciva, while ensuring children continue to learn despite disruptions caused by sickness, weather events and other circumstances.
Her focus, however, remains firmly on the children and their welfare.
Vaseva’s vision is for every child to feel “safe, loved, included and excited for learning”.
She believes early childhood education provides the foundation upon which children build confidence, curiosity and a sense of belonging.
Having grown up around educators, she shared that her family played an important role in shaping her own journey.
“It was always my dream to be an educator,” she said.
Today, she hopes to create an environment where children feel safe and protected, while respecting the different cultural and family backgrounds they bring with them.
Education begins long before a child enters a primary school classroom. It begins with creating a place where children feel they belong.
