PRIZE WINNERS 2015
SUPREME WINNERS FOR 2015
SUNIA VAKAMOCE - KADAVU PROVINCIAL SECONDARY SCHOOL, KADAVU
ROHITESH LAL - ALL SAINTS SECONDARY SCHOOL, LABASA
2015 PLAQUES AWARDED TO
KADAVU PROVINCIAL SECONDARY SCHOOL AND ALL SAINTS SECONDARY SCHOOL, LABASA
SPECIAL PRIZE AWARDED BY THE JUDGES
PRIYASHNA NAIDU - TILAK HIGH SCHOOL, LAUTOKA
BRANDON MAMAO - KAMIL MUSLIM COLLEGE, BA
MISHEL DEVINA NAICKER - MULOMULO SECONDARY SCHOOL, NADI
CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION
RIMA ALI - NADI MUSLIM COLLEGE, NADI
KARISHMA RAJNI CHAND - NATABUA HIGH SCHOOL, LAUTOKA
AVISKHKAAR DHARAN - RAKIRAKI PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL, RAKIRAKI
CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
ANJALI ANAMIKA DEVI - SIGATOKA ANDHRA COLLEGE, SIGATOKA
DARSHIKA RAJ - LABASA COLLEGE, LABASA
KAJOL RANIA SINGH - JAI NARAYAN COLLEGE, SUVA
DEEPAK KRISHNA NAIDU - BA SANATAN COLLEGE, BA
ELIZABETH TAKALA - ST JOSEPH’S SECONDARY SCHOOL, SUVA
CERTIFICATE OF SPECIAL MERIT
SHAHIL SINGH - MAHARISHI SANATAN COLLEGE, NADI
SHAINA SHARMA - SARASWATI COLLEGE, NAUSORI
KAMINIELI TUDRAVU - XAVIER COLLEGE, BA
SHREEYA VERMA - LAUTOKA ANDHRA SANGAM COLLEGE, LAUTOKA
MARIANA WAILASE - NAMOSI SECONDARY SCHOOL, NAMOSI
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
KARTIK KRISHNIL NAND - BHAWANI DAYAL ARYA COLLEGE, NAKASI
SHANIEL KUMAR - VOTUALEVU COLLEGE, NADI
ASHISH NIKLESH NAND - RISHIKUL SANATAN COLLEGE, SUVA
SUMEET KUMAR - DRASA SECONDARY SCHOOL, LAUTOKA
PENIJAMINI VABAKIDUA MAR - LAUTOKA MUSLIM COLLEGE
CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
KEASI KORORAVA - TAVUA DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOL
ASELEMO GAVIDI - LOMAWAI SECONDARY SCHOOL, SIGATOKA
PRIYANKA PAYAL - PANDIT VISHNU DEO MEMORIAL COLLEGE, LAUTOKA
MERELITA SICINILAWA - NAITASIRI PROVINCIAL HIGH SCHOOL, VUNIDAWA
CATHERINE MANASEITAVA - SABETO COLLEGE, NADI
This has been the seventh consecutive year the Fiji Association has offered this competition jointly with the New Zealand High Commission, Suva, supported by the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
The numbers have doubled compared to just a year ago, with extensive appeal in Fiji - rural, urban and remote locations. Of the 410 entries received from 93 secondary schools, there was a very good balance in terms of gender and cross section of Fiji secondary schools, especially from outer islands, away from the main centers. The essay competition continues to attract students from all backgrounds as well.
Topics for 2015
- Celebrating multiculturalism in school and beyond
- How to improve trade links between Fiji and NZ (sub headings: trade in goods, services, tourism, labor mobility and regional integration)
The first topic took into account a 2014 declaration by the United Nations General Assembly calling member states to promote and offer programs encouraging cultural diversity. Topic two was in continuation to earlier subjects relating to links between Fiji and NZ, especially areas where public diplomacy has a particular relevance.
Both topics were popularly received. Essays showed remarkable research. It is to the credit of students from many remote schools that creative means were invariably employed to gather data, including interviewing teachers and communities around them to compensate for facilities such as regular internet links. Special books have been sent to a number of such participants who did not win a prize but made an impact. Some computers have also been given.
Overall Winners
Sunia Vakamoce from Kadavu Island and Rohitesh Lal from Vanua Levu were the 2015 supreme winners. Sunia wrote on the first topic, showing how his remote school, with only ethnic Fijian (iTaukei) students can still relate to and be proactive in sharing the culture of others, including Indians, Chinese and yearly New Zealand visitors on support projects.
Rohitesh Lal shared views on trading opportunities between NZ and Fiji, highlighting the need for more joint projects, instancing examples of Fulton, Higgins, Hawkins companies of NZ currently engaged in construction, including renovating Nadi International Airport.
Other winners from a total of 28 selected, emerged from virtually every part of Fiji.
Prize Giving Reception
The 1 August event was attended by all winners, parents, school representatives, Fiji’s Director (Secondary Education), several past supreme winners, including a winner from 1979, Media and community representatives. There was intense media interest, particularly in the winners from the remote districts. Cash prizes, including $1000 plus a computer each to the two top winners, $500 cash and other category awards were handed out, totaling over $15,000. Mr Dan Carter generously sent a special signed prize also to the student whose winning entry mentioned an imagined conversation between Carter and Forbes on Fiji’s multi cultural diversity.
High Commissioner Ramsden was able to give several media interviews about the tremendous reach of the project and its significance. Excellent media reports appeared including on Fiji TV, Radio Fiji programs (both i Taukei and Hindustani stations) Fiji newspapers, Auckland newspapers, Radio Tarana, Apna Radio and TV, among the extensive coverage.
Visit to Kadavu – A First by A NZ High Commissioner
The High Commissioner, accompanied by Dr Satendra Singh visited Kadavu, to present the Winner’s Plaque to Kadavu Provincial Secondary School. The school’s remote location and somewhat difficult access from the small airstrip on the opposite side of Kadavu did not deter the visitors from reaching the 122 students and teaching staff. The school community presented a Tabua, the highest cultural gift among the iTaukei, to consolidate links. The Kadavu Island is popularly known as Little NZ (New Zealandi Lai Lai).
The visit to Kadavu was believed to be a first for a resident NZ High Commissioner. It was warmly appreciated and highly welcomed, a very significant outreach in the aftermath of the 2015 essay competition.
Visit to Other Schools
The Trade Commissioner, Ms Amanda Vercoe and Dr Singh also visited a number of the winning schools in Suva, Nausori and Naitasiri while Ms Ruth Delany, a staff member from MFAT, associated with scholarships in the region, joined Dr Singh on visits to schools in Nadi, Ba and Lautoka. Books were presented to all participants. Many comments were noted on the appeal of this year’s prizes. School coordinators said the additional awards became a talking point among communities. Students were highly motivated because of the excellent tangible rewards, including the opportunity to travel to Suva and meet other winners. We have no doubt the value and range of prizes remain a major contributor to the overall success of the project.
2016 TOPICS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN TERM ONE BY THE NEW ZEALAND HIGH COMMISSION SUVA. | 
