Samuela Koroi of Waiqanake Village in Suva, Rewa, vowed to make his mother proud in school.

And he did just that.

He graduated from the Centre for Appropriate Technology and Development in Nadave, Nauso­ri, yesterday – scooping the Best Trainee Award for the Plumbing and Sheetmetal Certificate I.

Raised by a solo parent, Mr Ko­roi is the youngest of four sib­lings.

He shared that his mother who worked as a housemaid always encouraged him to pursue his education for a better future.

“I am really happy that I was able to accomplish the goal I made when I started. I worked hard for my mother because my father died when I was very young,” Mr Koroi said.

“Being raised by a single parent is not easy, but I am glad that she never gave up on me. She believed in me and always encouraged me to do my best,” he said.

Through the tough times at home and in school, the 21-year-old knew God had a plan for him.

“One of the challenges that I faced while studying was finance. My mother is a housemaid and I am blessed that she always en­courages me to get educated. My mother paid my school fees by saving whatever she could,” Mr Koroi said.

He plans to work for two years so that he can support his fam­ily and save enough to continue a higher qualification.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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