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A youth who spent most of his life at the Suva Boys Juvenile Centre is now enrolled at the University of the South Pacific through a changed approach, says manager of the centre Rupeni Varea.
Varea highlighted this success story while addressing reporters today at Nukulau Island, a former prison for political prisoners.
Sixteen youths aged between 12 and 18 have been spending the week on Nukulau. They are part of a programme run by the Social Welfare Department and the Fiji military Forces to instill confidence and leadership skills in youths.
“We started this program in 2006, where we and the RFMF take the boys for survival courses,” he said.
“Nukulau seemed an appropriate place since the first ever boys centre was established on neighbouring Makuluva Island in 1935.
“Most of these boys come from broken families and through such programs we have managed to make the boys decide for themselves what is good and what is bad. Right now, our must successful case has been where a boy spent nine years of his life with the centre and is now doing second year at USP.”
Three boys from the centre featured in the Fiji secondary schools Deans Trophy rugby finals last weekend - playing for Ratu Kadavulevu, Ratu Sukuna Memorial School and Marist Brothers High School respectively.
“Some of these kids have been out of school for more than three years but after the program we managed to put them back in school. The center drops and picks them from the school.”
Varea said that like most people, the youths at the centre also want a chance.
He said society provides the biggest obstacle to these youths who want to change or prosper.
“Institutionalizing the youths is not the solution. That was the approach used before but the success rate was very low. Right now with such initiatives we have had a success rate of 90 percent.”
Varea added that the centre was to be relocated, but the political events of 2006 halted the plan and donor countries pulled out.
“We still have plans to have a better boys centre, but we are working to get donors, who will make the dream possible,” he said.
Eighteen year old Krishant Dass has spent nine years of his life in homes and centres around the country. Now he is attending sixth form at Suva Sangam School while staying at the home.
“My family separated and I had nowhere to go,” explains Dass.
“Now I have been here since I was nine. This program has allowed me to see that life is about making decisions and the wrong decisions will take you nowhere. I am in form six and after studies this year I want to become a chef.”
Twelve-year-old Ravikesh Kumar ran away from home because he could not cope with the daily beatings by his father.
He wants to finish school and become a soldier.
