Having to lose both parents at a young age Apenisa Kuruisaqila, took on the challenge to help fend for the family.

Through the years, his hard work and patience has brought him this far. And on Friday, he was rewarded handsomely for standing up against those challenges.

Mr Kuruisaqila was among the 110 recipients awarded with a certificate of participation from the National Employment Centre (NEC).

The NEC training, which ran for one week, taught a series of basic topics varying from adjusting to life in Australia, welfare support and accommodation to financial literacy.

That also earned him as a recipient among the 110 awardees of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme.

After graduating from high school, he joined Shangri-La Resort and Spa in 2006 so that he could look after his younger brother and elderly father.

“From there, I built up my life because I was the only one left to sustain the family financially,” he said.

“I later lost my father in 2015, and this was the most challenging period of my life because I had now lost both of my parents.”

Optimistic about good days ahead, Mr Kuruisaqila applied for the PALM scheme in 2018, where his sincere instinct to pray about it became a reality last month when he was told that he was a successful candidate.

“They contacted me last month. I was so surprised because it’s been years, but I thank the Lord, I did not change my number,” he said.

Mr Kuruisaqila is among the first group of successful hospitality candidates that will be leaving the country tomorrow.

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