On average over the past five years, we have sponsored 1 girl per year in Fiji.

The following story is from one of our beneficiaries, highlighting her ambition and the obstacles that prevented her from completing secondary school before she was sponsored.

To protect her identity, the name of the girl has been changed.

Vanessa’s Story

“My favourite hobby is reading, especially books on politics and influential women of various societies, or how the view of society and educating females have changed”

The CGEF started sponsoring Vanessa in 2016, after being recommended to us by the Fiji High Commission. Vanessa lost her mother when she was nine years old and currently lives with her father, stepmother and three siblings. She has proven to be an extremely bright student and an excellent role model to others, being elected to school prefect in 2017, which was not an easy role with 700+ girls from various cultural and ethnic groups attending her school.

Two consecutive cyclones affected Fiji in 2018 and her school had to close for two weeks. This affected her exams, which had to be postponed but nevertheless, she still came out with flying colours and was able to proceed to her final year at high school.

“My passion for feminine involvement in politics and their contributions to the development of the nation forms the basis of my dream to become a lawyer. It has been a life-long dream and I am determined that I can be an instrument of positive change, movement and development towards a better future for my country. These are my dreams and aspirations, to become a lawyer specialising in child services and ultimately, a future politician. However, this can only be possible if I am equipped with the appropriate qualifications, knowledge and skills. This is why I need to finish my education to the highest level and I hope that the renewal of my sponsorship will be approved, as this will help me to complete my final year in high school and move on to higher education. I hope that I will not be the last girl to be sponsored here in Fiji, as I fully support the work that your generous organisation is doing for young ladies in the Commonwealth, and also because I believe that ‘girls with dreams become women with vision’ ”