Tawake Reaches His Goal
The 20-year-old Providing Young Generation Movement in Every Society (PYGMIES) youth, known to many as ‘Tawake’, is usually seen around Lautoka with his fellow youth members cutting grass, cleaning compounds for families and even feeding the poor late at night.
Sunday 17 July 2022 | 12:03
Anakeleto Tawake (standing third from right) with his mum, Gloriyah Tehillah (standing fourth from right) and the Free Bird Institute CEO, Hiroshi Taniguchi (sitting, front) with other students, their parents and teachers at the institute’s Lautoka Campus on July 13, 2022. Photo: Nicolette Chambers
Proverbs 19:17, ‘whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done’.
This was the bible verse, Pauliasi Tavakece reminded his son, Anakeleto Tawake every day, encouraging him that one day all his hard work would pay off.
The 20-year-old Providing Young Generation Movement in Every Society (PYGMIES) youth, known to many as ‘Tawake’, is usually seen around Lautoka with his fellow youth members cutting grass, cleaning compounds for families and even feeding the poor late at night.
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Tawake was studying Japanese at the Free Bird Institute, Lautoka Campus.
Mr Tavakece said during the COVID-19 pandemic, his son would suggest giving up and not continuing his studies because the wait to travel to Japan for work was taking too long.
“Every day I reminded him of that bible verse,” he said.
On Wednesday, Tawake received the news that he was among four other students who will be traveling to Tokyo, Japan next month to work with the Japan Airlines Ground Handling Department and the Narita International Airport.
“It is an exciting year for me, it is my blessing,” Tawake said.
Out of the 56 students that sat the exam, five students, Leisi Atama, Luca Vakatawa, Caroline Delaimalumu, Joji Bendito including Tawake passed.
Ms Atama, 21, said late night studies were all worth it.
“It truly is a happy time for all of us,” she said.
She teaches English to Japanese students at Jasper Williams High School.
The institute’s CEO, Hiroshi Taniguchi said the institute, the Japan Airlines Ground Handling Department and the Narita International Airport each contributed towards the students’ travel next month.
“We contributed about FJD$25,000, it costs a lot of money but it is for the children’s future,” Mr Taniguchi said.
The students are expected to depart Fiji on August 15.
Feedback: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj
