Never Forget Your Roots: Adi Koila
Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau reminded patrons at the Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara Education Trust Fund fundraising dinner on Saturday to never forget their roots.
Adi Koila said education should be important to every Lauan just like it was for her father the late Turaga na Tui Nayau Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
“Two things the Turaga na Tui Nayau valued were education and Lau,” she said.
“No matter how far the Turaga na Tui Nayau travelled, worked or how busy he became he would always make time to return to Lau whether it was his home in Tubou, Lakeba or Sawana Village in Vanuabalavu,” Adi Koila said.
It was his hope that all Lauans would always return and give back to the island that nurtured them.
“Not only formal education should be important, but also what you learn at home, villages, the traditional knowledge of all our fish species, our island boundaries, our different plants, the land and the sea that sustains us.”
Adi Koila wished her Ratu was alive to see how the Fund had helped many Lauan children.
“In 1990 Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara turned 70 and for his birthday celebration he received up to $72,000 in monetary gifts from close friends and family. The $72, 000 was his personal contribution to the formation of the Ratu Mara College,” Adi Koila said.
Lau has produced the most doctors, lawyers, accountants and some of the most blue collared skills and talented people Fiji has had to offer.
“At the same time though, unfortunately the number of indigenous Fijian back then and still to this day have Lauans as the most incarcerated in prisons, biggest population living in the streets, those suffering from NCD’s and living below the poverty line in informal squatter settlements,” Adi Koila said
“The late Turaga na Tui Nayau firmly believed education was the key and driving force to progress.”
The Funds management board would ensure united efforts to reach every child with a dream and fulfill the hope of every family, village and tikina.
“We the board and proud Lauans make this promise to do better and achieve more, to be transparent and more active and reach as many students as we can while at the same time to also address the issue of our people who are suffering in Viti Levu,” “ Adi Koila said.
“A fund that is named after a great man who was not only my father but to all of us here.
