Ma’afu An Agent Of Change In Cunningham Community

Becoming an agent for change in his community is what Enele Ma’afu has aspired to become.

This has been inspired by his struggles growing up in a single parent household.

Now Mr Ma’afu has chosen to help a community which some claim has become known to have many drug addicts and early school dropouts.

Yesterday, Mr Ma’afu gathered his friends and youths of Cunningham Stage 4 and organised a barber drive to collect stationery, books, sandals and bags.

They worked to assist 19 children from underprivileged families in the Cunningham community for the upcoming school year.

According to the 24-year-old, an investment in education is an investment to break the cycle of poverty, drug addictions and early school dropouts.

“Basically this barber drive is to provide basic stationery for families and students who are here in the community in Cunningham stage 4,” he said.

“They come in and have their hair cut and they donate whatever they can to the drive.

“They can give cash, stationeries, books or whatever basic school items that they wish to donate.”

He said they had picked out 19 students from seven different families whom they would be assisting in the area.

The Inspiration

He said the inspiration came from hoping to see a new beginning for the children in the community.

“I grew up in a single parent family and I know too well how it is to struggle with returning to school.

“Somedays I would wish that someone would just come by and provide these things to us.

“So I thought why not change the system, break the generational curse that has been passed down from the past and create a new beginning for these kids.

“The children here are always seen hanging around aimlessly and wandering around so by investing in education we hope that we are creating change in this community.”

Support

He said they have been overwhelmed with the support from those who have been visiting them and donating to their drive.

“Someone came in with all the stationeries that will cater for the 19 students and just recently someone just came with a school bag and sandals."

"We have been receiving cash too; we are hopeful that we will be able to achieve our target at the conclusion of this programme.

“Thankfully we have barbers who have volunteered their services and I am grateful for my fellow barbers who are here."

"It’s an opportune time too for us barbers to socialise and get to know each other.”

Cunningham stage four youth Daniel Yabakivou said the community has lost a lot of its youths to illegal actions in the past.

“We have some youths who have taken the full brunt of drug addiction and this is one way that we can invest in the education of our children who are growing up to break this cycle,” Mr Yabakivou said.

“We would like to give the children a path to take that will protect them from any harm that we had experienced in our days.”

Message

Mr Maafu’s message to all children is: “If you are facing challenges at home, whether you are from a broken family or you see obstacles then you better understand that they are your mountains."

"You try to overcome it; nothing is impossible.”

He has encouraged youths to be agents of change in their communities and to their families and friends.

Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj