Added: 14/11/2010 

 

 

 

“If I took my children to Court, what would my neighbours and the whole community here think of me? They will surely turn around and say, what kind of father would take his own children to Court?”

 

These were the words of 60 years old displaced retired labourer and farmhand Shiu Ram who now resides at Solovi Road off Nadi Backroad. Mr Ram lived in a cane farm all his life and depended on the farm owner for his livelihood. His lifetime career as a carpenter and farmhand came to an abrupt end when the lease on the farm he worked on in Nawaka expired and his employer who was also his landlord was evicted last two months

 

Mr Ram is one of the 70+ new cases received by FENC Fiji to be considered for assistance in 2011as they toured the Western Division last week. Staff of Fenc Fiji are currently undertaking a program in the Western Division to follow up progress of children who are assisted by the organisation and taking on applications from other parents and guardians of needy children who were not aware of this programme when it was established in December last year.

 

An emotional Mr Ram related how he returned from the farm one afternoon to see his lean-to shack dismantled and landowners taking over ownership of the farm. Shocked and in total disbelief, his first reaction was getting down on his knees and crying his heart out as he tried to come to terms with his situation – he had worked very hard all his life, lost both his first and second wife with whom he had seven children and now supporting his third wife and their 7 year old daughter. Mr Ram said that he was discouraged from seeking assistance after he was advised to ask for help from his older children who reside in various squatter settlements in the West or take them to court for not supporting him. He was moved to tears when a team of volunteers led by Fenc Fiji National Executive Coordinator, Irshad Ali, visited his home to present him with groceries. They assured him that his application for education assistance for daughter will be submitted to the Selection Committee.

 

This is one of the many cases of distraught individuals and families in Fiji that make up the population of the “poorest of the poor” in Fiji.

 

Since its establishment in December 2009, Fenc Fiji is now assisting a total of 850 children from around the country. Government’s grant of $200,000 last year to kick-start the Foundation was a welcome call by the Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

 

The Prime Minister recently launched a documentary produced by Fenc Fiji titled “Seeds of Hope” depicting the lives of the poor in Fiji and government’s efforts to see to the education needs of needy children in Fiji in conjunction with Pillar 8 of the People’s Charter.

 

The team will be visiting Ba, Rakiraki and Tavua this week and will be in the Northern Division next week.