For Nadi businesswoman Shabreen Nisha, the journey from the Hidden Paradise of Savusavu to the Jetset town of Nadi has been long but rewarding.

The 32-year- old Savusavu woman is the managing director of Lil Champs Preschool & Daycare and Direct Champs on Wheels (Mobile Kindy) in Nadi.

Her strive to achieve more in life included being chosen as Global Leader at World Forum Foundation for Young Children.

Speaking during the International Women’s Day morning tea party at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on Thursday,  Ms Nisha shared her story with over 50 women who attended.

“I come from a small town Savusavu, in Vanua Levu. I barely remember that I had a proper Early Childhood Education. The practice of upbringing children in pacific is different. It was so heavy for me.

“Our culture doesn’t allow children to raise their voice and opinions especially when you are a girl than it’s the worse.

“Our local mentality is for us girls to get married and go live your life with your family whereas this is completely opposite for boys.

“It’s a shame that it is still happening and hidden under the carpets.

“As a child I was completely opposite. I wanted to raise my voice, I wanted to be heard, I wanted to share my feelings and yes very ambitious but it was difficult because I was a girl. This made me even stronger and molded me to do even something better.”

She moved to Nadi and did further studies in Early Childhood Education at the Australian Technical Collage from the Box Hill University.

“I have two centers of Lil Champs that’s serving education to the community.”

Ms Nisha also runs Champs On Wheels, a non-profitable organisation that provides free education to children aged between 0-4 and fostering mothers to become the first educators communities.

“Iam also appointed as a Global Leader for World Forum Foundation of Young children.

“I was fortunate to travel to Cambodia during Asia Pacific Regional Networking for ECE last year.

“As a Global Leader, I got a chance to study in Science of brain development.”

Her support for Fijian mothers and carers is to instill in them to become parenting roles as the first teachers.

“Building relationship with mothers and carers and teach them core meaningful learning development and interweave basic meaningful learning through play.”

The programmes are for mothers to teach their children from birth to three years and through to the fourth year.

“Equipping them with basic knowledge and tools, necessary for fostering holisticdevelopment of young children.”

She plans to travel to Nepal in a few months’ time to attend the conference that will be held by Asia Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood Education.

“I stand strongly to improve the standards in foundation level for our children.

“I believe change is not only needed in school but at homes as well. Let’s get together and make a change for our children especially for girls and set examples for a better future.

“I believe if we as women will excel in work, automatically success will follow you.”

South Pacific Stock Exchange

Meanwhile as part of a global initiative and to honour the International Women’s Day, the South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPSE or Exchange) is one of the stock exchanges around the world to partner with the UN Global Compact, UN Women, the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Federation of Exchanges and Women in ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) in raising awareness about the business case for gender equality and sustainable development by ringing its opening trading bell on Thursday.

The theme for this year is “Press for Progress” and the event is characterised by each participating stock exchange ringing their opening or closing trading bell, followed by a programme of their choice that is intended to highlight and generate discussion about the importance of gender equality to economic growth and development.

Feedback:  charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj