From left: Westpac general manager Brett Hooker, Ministry of Health and Medical Services Permanent Secretary Susan Kiran, Permanent Secretary for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Josefa Koroivueta, Representative UN Women, Fiji Multi Country office Aleta Miller, Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service Bernadette Welch, Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Salaseini Daunabuna, Permanent Secretary for Education, Heritage and Arts Alison Burchell, Permanent Secretary for Public Enterprises Jitendra Singh, and Microfinance and Women's Market senior manager, Eseta Nadakuitavuki during the Westpac International Women's Day Celebration on March 8, 2018. Photo: Ministry of Women and Poverty Alleviation
To mark International Women’s Day, the bank launched its 2018 Westpac Women and Girls Education Grants.
International Women’s Day is marked around the world to reflect on and celebrate the achievements and advancement of women.
Keeping this in mind, Westpac Fiji hosted a lunch at the Paradiso Ristorante in Suva on Thursday to mark this day.
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Westpac general manager Brett Hooker said Westpac as an organisation takes pride in celebrating International Women’s Day.
“A day to reflect and acknowledge the achievements of women despite their struggles and challenges,” he said.
As part of their commitment to gender equality and advancement of women in Fiji, Westpac also launched the 2018 Westpac Women and Girls Education Grants on Thursday.
Mr Hooker said: “Our aim with the education grants is to financially assist and encourage women and girls to take positive steps towards fulfilling their educational potential and we have witnessed that for girls, it helps with the cost of their schooling and for women it helps them to return to, or continue, tertiary study.”
There are a total of nine grants. Three grants for each of the three categories, primary school, high school/secondary/college and tertiary students/adult worker wishing to return to study.
“The successful grant recipients will receive funding to contribute towards their education cost,” he said.
Applicants need to answer the question ‘What can be done to remove barriers to women and girls progress.’
Mr Hooker encouraged the women and girls of Fiji to never give up, believe in themselves, take on challenges and continue pressing forward through the challenges and success will follow.
“We know that we can be and do better, when we’re all together. That’s why we’re proud to help press for progress on gender equality,” Mr Hooker said.
Grants:
Primary school award - $400
High School/Secondary College - $1000
Tertiary students/ Adult worker - $2150
Edited by Naisa Koroi
