Mala and Tekini faced enormous difficulties to achieve their goals

“When I was young, we didn’t have enough money for my school fees and had to leave studies.”

33 year old, Archana Pritika Mala of Topline, Lautoka shared her struggles with Legend FM News after graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce and Business from the University of the South Pacific.

Mala says they faced enormous difficulties after the passing away of her father 18 years ago.

Meanwhile, Vika Tekini who graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce says her parents gave her the only money they had left to come to Suva and apply for a Tertiary Education Loans Scheme.

Tekini who hails from the village of Navesi-vidra in Burewai, Ra added that her father’s only hope of supporting her education was his yaqona plantation and her mother sold root crops every weekend at the market.

Tekini says that her parents dreams for her to get into the University got shattered during TC Winston where everything they relied on was destroyed.

Despite being faced with financial difficulties, she persevered and qualified for the Tertiary Education Loans Scheme.

Tekini and Mala are among 1,321 University of the South Pacific Laucala Campus students who graduated in the University's September graduation.