Trysha Nand and Aisha Prasad win 2023 Westpac Women and Girls Education Grant

It was a great moment for the families of Year 8 student Trysha Nand and Year 6 student Aisha Prasad as they were awarded the 2023 Westpac Women and Girls Education Grant.

Nand, who is studying at Bethel Primary School in Labasa, says she was so excited to get the news from her teacher that she had won the grant for her poster, and when she told her parents, they were so happy.

Her father, Ravneet Nand, says Trysha was given a form at school and encouraged to apply for this grant, and they are so happy that she decided to apply.

He says winning the $500 helped them buy his daughter's school supplies and stationery for her final year of primary school.

Nand says his daughter is studying hard as she plans to attend Labasa College next year, and they are proud of her.

He adds that some of her winnings are still in her account as she is saving it for an upcoming Girl Guides camping trip later this year that she is really excited to attend.

Anjani Lata, the mother of 10-year-old Aisha Prasad, said her family was overjoyed upon hearing that her daughter had won the grant.

She says they decided that, as she is only in Year 6, they would keep the funds she won in her account and continue to add money to it for her future studies.

When Lata was asked about her daughter’s aspirations, she said her daughter has told them that she wants to be a lawyer one day, but that might change over time, however, they will support her in whatever she chooses to become.

Westpac Fiji Chief Executive Shane Smith says their commitment to support women and girls through this education grant is unwavering as it has been for the past 14 years.

Smith says this year, in an effort to reduce paper usage, they encourage applicants to apply online via their digital platform.

This year’s competition, primary school participants were asked to draw a poster on the topic, “Show us what your best world would look like: where girls are given the support they need to succeed.”

Secondary school participants were asked to write an essay (500 words maximum) on the topic, “What ‘Count Her In. Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress means to you, and how would you bring this to life in Fiji?”

Tertiary/adult learners were asked to write an essay (1,200 words maximum) on the topic, “Share an experience you’ve encountered or witnessed in Fiji that has shown how investing in women and girls helped to accelerate progress."