I first met Sashi Kiran when she was my guide on an around-the-island tour of Viti Levu and a shorter tour on Vanua Levu. We were visiting Fiji Council of Social Services local locations as part of my consultancy for an aid agency.
Later, before she left FCOSS, I persuaded her to study for a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies at the University of the South Pacific. She had previously worked in media for three years. With this and her development work with FCOSS , she was eligible to enter our programme although she did not have an undergraduate degree.
I had always wanted Development Studies to have close, interactive ties with the NGO "development" community and I had persuaded the university to amend its regulations to allow entry for people active in NGOs who did not have an undergraduate degree.
Looking back, she was one of the few students to engage in development work after she graduated with her diploma. Most of the others, I'm sad to say, used their qualification as a stepping stone to more lucrative employment!
Sashi's impact on the rural Fiji development scene has been massive.
From an idea shared with a few friends and with next-to-no resources, she has built FRIEND, the Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development, with its network of village, formal and informal settlements helping marginalised people and those living with disabilities, widows, single parents, orphans and former prisoners, to improve their lives and break out of poverty.
Somewhere we still have the jar that once contained spiced mangoes made by one of the villagers. One jar of FRIEND's many thousands.
Set aside a few minutes and
listen here to Sashi as she takes us on her journey following her dreams.
-- ACW
1 comment:
Dear Croz,
That was a really good blog on Sashi Khan. I listened to her speech and she was impressive. Conventional wisdom – conventional expectation – can be a strangler and it has failed to strangle her. She has found how to use it positively. How Fiji and the world need people like her (and people like you who can recognize potential in others).
My father never told me, but he illustrated all his life, that every single person has human dignity, and respect for that dignity is crucial to progress. I have always believed that and regretted that not enough teachers did.
Best for Christmas Croz and may the New Year shine on you.
Des
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