My parents-my teachers-my heroes!

February 12th, 2018 Honiara - It's school time again and it's this time of the year that most students are probably excited to go back to school. Some are sad that holiday is over while some may be a little nervous on the first day at school. Like thousands of children across the country, 11-year-old Annie Nunuhi is very keen to start off her grade 5 (year 5) at Pamua primary school in Makira Ulawa province. She is looking forward to wearing her uniform, carrying her new school bag and to meet her school friends.

Annie lives in Tawapuna village with her other siblings, mum and dad Mathew, who is the main breadwinner and is also looking after others as well through his work as a labourer in his own cocoa farm. Annie mentioned that she is so lucky and proud to have a hard-working, kind and loving father like Mathew that struggles to keep the family together with her mum’s support even when they are less fortunate like other families.

“I love my dad, he is a very hard working, kind and loving person who tries to work hard in the cocoa farm with my mum’s support just to pay off school tuitions for my siblings and me, clothes and food for all of us. My dad told us that 2017 was a challenging year for us because he had to work and save money to rebuild our house that was partly damaged by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook our island Makira on the 9th of December 2016 and we should not expect much, which was so true.”

For that reason, Annie’s mother has decided to join the savings group in their community initiated by World Vision to save for Annie and her siblings’ tuition fee for the year 2018.

The year 2018 is here and Annie with a smiling face have hope that she would definitely be able to continue her education and her tuition fee is ready, despite the struggles the family went through. Year 5 is relatively another new level up for Annie and she sounded nervous but she mentioned that her dad encouraged her to keep going and think positive all the time and also to be a good girl at home, learn to obey and to be a God-fearing person. Annie received smacks sometimes when she does something that is not right.

Annie loves to stick around with her parents and play while they are working in the cocoa farm or doing house chores. She sometimes helped during the cocoa harvest season. She aims high and has goals and hopes that keeps her going.

“I sometimes help my parents in the cocoa farm because I know the earnings from it will go towards savings and also for my school fees. I want to become a nurse when I finish my studies so I can easily get a job in any clinic (community health centre) nearby our community so I can stay close and look after my parents when they get sick. And I want to have lots of money so I can help my parents especially my dad who always help me and provide  materials that I need for school,” said Annie.

However, despite the struggles, Annie will still attend school because of her parents’ struggles, sweats and consideration for their childrens future. Annie is a very happy girl and she is looking forward to going back to school. “My parents are not only my heroes but they are also my best teachers at home," Smiled Annie.

World Vision Solomon Islands collaborated with the communities around Makira including Tawapuna community in Central Makira to implement programs with the goal of contributing towards improving livelihoods and the quality of life for children, families and the community as a whole. Savings group and producer group programs are established across communities in Makira under World Vision's Community Economic Development project, supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Corporation Program (ANCP).