Sovaia Coalala with FNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Toby Wilkinson.

An inspirational Fiji National University (FNU) staff has received one of the top awards at the recent Homecare Independent National Disability Awards 2021 to recognise her substantial contribution to the disability community in Fiji.

Sovaia Coalala, Disability Coordinator at FNU, was named the Senior Manager of the Year at the awards ceremony held in Suva last weekend.

Originally from Kadavu, Coalala joined the University in 2016. She previously worked at the Fiji School for the Blind as an integration teacher and played an instrumental role in the successful transitioning of students with visual impairments from mainstream high school into tertiary institutions.

The Disability Coordinator said she was overwhelmed with the recognition, hoping it will inspire others with similar challenges.

“This award means a lot to me. With this recognition, I now feel that people like myself can also have their hard work recognised just like anyone else. I want to thank the Lord almighty and my employer, the Fiji National University as well. FNU has enabled me to become resilient and proved that anyone, despite their disability, can be part of any workforce,” said an emotional Coalala.

Along with her role in facilitating support for students with disability and coordinating the facilitation of services to these students at the different Campuses at FNU, Coalala also encourages them towards achieving their goals.

“As the Disability Coordinator of one of the biggest tertiary institutions in Fiji, I constantly work with students from different backgrounds who challenge me to think of ways to support them with their visual, physical, hearing and learning difficulties.”

Coalala holds a Bachelor of Education in Literature and Language from the University of the South Pacific and a double Masters from the University of Wollongong in Australia.

“I would like to encourage persons with disability all other differently-abled individuals to work hard and have a positive attitude towards everything you do. This will go a long way to help you achieve whatever you have put in your mind to, and do not let your disability be a barrier to your success.”

Meanwhile, the FNU sponsored Student of the Year award was presented to Dhruvkaran Nand, a final year Journalism and Politics student at the University of the South Pacific.

Dhruvkaran Nand receives his award from FNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Toby Wilkinson.

“Receiving this prestigious award is a fantastic feeling because it has a lot of value to it. However, I still strongly believe that I have a long way to go and still a lot to learn in life,” said Nand.

“Living with a deficient vision has been a challenge. I started my education at the Rishikul Primary School, but I had to switch school because of my poor eyesight. This is when I joined the Fiji School for the Blind and later progressed to Ahmadiyya Muslim College in Narere, Navosai before joining USP.”

While Nand has been recognised for his commitment towards uplifting the students with disabilities in his network, he believes it is the students who are his biggest motivation.

“I learn diverse things from each student, and that is what inspires me to keep doing my best in life. I also acknowledge my family, which consists of my parents, grandparent and two siblings, who have been my loudest cheerleaders in life.”

Nand’s message to the other students with disability is to “Do your best in whatever you are doing. Never give up and always believe in yourself. You certainly cannot lose when you have broken so many barriers already.”