Twenty students from  Primary and Secondary Schools received scholarships from S.S.A.B. on Friday morning.

Three of these 20 students are from Savai’i while 17 are from here in Upolu.

Two other students were recipients of last year’s scholarships when S.S.A.B. first launched the SSAB/Prime Minister’s Junior Fellow Award.

Managing Director, Fiti Leung Wai said she was inspired to start this scholarship award when N.Z. Prime Minister To’osavili John Key chose her to be the sole awardee from Samoa for the N.Z. Prime Minister’s Fellow Award.

“When I returned from my trip I then started the SSAB/N.Z. Prime Minister’s Junior Fellow Award.

“The two recipients of the award last year were Grace Ah Young and Joyce Marie Toafa, and they also got to meet the New Zealand Prime Minister.”

She said that the awardees of this year’s scholarships are entitled to $500 cash to be put towards school fees, $500 worth of stationery and each of them will become part of S.S.A.B’s Apprenticeship Programme.

As for the achievements of the project ever since it started, she said the recipients of the awards have been able to gain a lot of experience because they get to work at S.S.A.B. as well.

“They have been exposed to the work in a retail shop and it has brought out a lot of confidence in them, confidence in not only speaking, oratory skills, but confidence in dealing with people,” she said.

“One of the things that I am going to tap into, is to teach them on how to be leaders and to do good work for the community, but we have to think about a community project that my awardees and I  can do to give back to the community.”

Ms. Leung Wai also spoke about the challenges that come with the programme.

“The challenges for the recipients alone are their schedules,” she said.

“[But] knowing that these are young students, they have to commit all their time to their work and also to continue to be diligent students because sometimes we have projects where they may not be available.”

Ms. Leung Wai said she helps out with a lot of the programmes in Samoa because this is the heart of God.

“His heart is giving and helping and doing good work but all of this is for His glory,” she said.

“As long as God is glorified, the blessings will always follow and to me it’s an inspiring way to give back to the community and encourage business people.

“Every business should always have a strong philanthropic arm where they do charitable work because life is not just about looking after your people and family,  but also the people around you.

“My biggest reward is to see people really appreciate and being grateful for the opportunities and also helping  young ones grow.”

She also hopes that the children who she helps will become great leaders in the future and that they will do good work for the country.

AWARDEES:

UPOLU:

• Charles Salevao – RLSS

• Penina Kamu – RLSS Primary School

• Mahima Parek – LDS

• Apelu Sula Manaia – Samoa Primary School

• Parnell Asiata – Ah Mu Academy

• Quenjule Slaven – St Marys College

• Fulisia Pesio Faavae – Peace Chapel

• Imeleta Samuelu – Chanel College

• Vaifagaloa Mamoe – Faleata College

• Carla Maamu Hunt – St Marys Primary School

• Teuila Poluleta – Matautu Lefaga Primary School

• Reupena Foliga – Maluafou College

• Sina Tupu – Lotofaga Primary School

• David Toa Suifaatau – Marist Primary School

• Mika Fonoti – St Josephs Primary School

• Grace Ah Young – Samoa College 

• Joyce To’afa – Samoa College 

SAVAII:

• Kaisara Faaiu – Salelologa Primary School

• Sailiemanu Lilomaiava – St Theresa Primary School

• Maria Kosene – Vaiola College.