𝐅𝐂𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐬

The Fiji Corrections Service today addressed Part Time Students Mentors (PTSMs) from around the country with some very encouraging and resounding advice.

Making his presentation was Director for Rehabilitation,

Superintendent Isireli Dausiga, who reminded the mentors who work with primary and secondary school students that their roles were similar.

“You are mothers and father first – then Mentors later. You need to treat them like your own sons and daughters because in many cases they do not have that at home,” Supt Dausiga shared.

“You and I are in the business of saving lives, I do not know if you ever looked at it that way.’’

“You fill in the gaps and provide that cushion for young adults growing up in a Fiji that has changed rapidly in the last 15 years.

Mr Dausiga shared that the work of mentoring in schools is something many take for granted but is an effective way to reach out to children who come from challenging backgrounds and basically give them hope and open new doors for them.

“As a former mentor myself, I used to move in between various schools in red zone areas, but today I have been recalled by the Service to take care of the exit points of where young men and women enter as a consequence of having no one to guide them through life.

The 2-day capacity building program for the participants, saw the Fiji Police and the FCS taking participants through their roles, challenges and the way forward in engaging communities and schools together with PTSMs.

Retired high school teacher, former national volleyball coach turned PTSM, Jale Samuwai said the presentations by the Police and Corrections was a great learning curve for them all.

“I think now we are well equipped with this new found information to be able to do our work better in schools.

“When we cannot identify the needs of problematic students in schools they often end up in prison, so we all have to work together and such forums as these are so very important.

“We thank the Substance Abuse Advisory Council and Ministry of Education for backing such a program.

The FCS continues to build bridges with stakeholders who all have a stake in the work of saving lives.