Having a criminal record can be a barrier when it comes to job searching.

For Joeli Ragogo, his criminal record has been the very reason he had not been able to support his family.

However, the 31-year-old from Lake­ba, Lau did not give up.

His prayers were answered and a week ago Mr Ragogo started his own wheelbarrow business.

The father of three was one of the 10 young men who received a wheelbar­row each from the Nadina Support Group.

The group was led by the Momo na Tui Nawaka, Ratu Asaeli Driu.

Most of these young men were ex-in­mates and had engaged themselves in illegal business by selling jibi / loose cigarettes around Nadi Town.

Through the collaboration of the Nadi Community Policing and the Support Group, they were able to reach out to them and help.

Released From Prison

When Mr Ragogo was released from the Fiji Corrections Centre in 2015 he said his criminal record affected his job opportunities.

"There is always an ideology that when one is a convict; his or her re­cords will remain with him."

"That is how people look at me."

" I thank God for opening the doors for me through this wheelbarrow business" - Joeli Ragogo

"After I was released from prison a few years ago, it was really hard for me to get a job because of my criminal records."

He said he really wanted to make a change and prove to people that he would no longer live with the past fail­ures.

"I have a family now which I need to support and two of my children are still in primary school."

"I thank God for opening the doors for me through this wheelbarrow business."

"I believe through Tui Nawaka and his connection with the business stakeholders in Nadi, people like me will be able to get a job in a legal way to help provide for my family."

Meanwhile, Tui Nawaka said the Na­dina Group will continue to work with Nadi Committee Policing in conduct­ing rehabilitation programmes at vil­lages in Nadi.

"We will work with the police and find ways to help change their lives so that they become better citizens of this country," he said.

Feedback: mereleki.nai@fijisun.com.fj