ILISAPECI TUIVALE
For Joseva Lomavere, the training provided to him by the Ministry of Forestry is a step towards achieving his dreams. The most outspoken lad of the Cawa District Youth group who were part of the team assisting in the tree planting consultations around Koro Island, Jo, as he is most commonly known, has big dreams for himself and his family. The 19-year-old from Navaga Village farms in the village and has plans of a better life abroad. “I am hoping that this training and this certificate will take me overseas.
I have faced so much hardships in life and I’m working towards a brighter future for my siblings and me,” he stated. Though outspoken and always willing to assist anyone who needs help, Jo carries the weight of a broken past weighing over his shoulders. Raised by his grandmother in the village of Navaga, his dreams of attending aviation school this year were shattered when he fell into the wrong crowd in high school.
Jo is popular as someone who is always willing to run errands for anyone in the team and is always willing to assist anyone who needs help but behind such a bubbly personality is a person carrying so much pain silently. “My grandmother raised me and two of my siblings when my parents separated. I haven’t seen my mother in a long time and it hurts me but I am learning to cope as the days go by. I help out in the household chores and I can do any domestic duty needed to be done in the house.”
“My father and I farm for the sustainability of our family and I am hoping that with the knowledge I have acquired from these tree planting exercise and consultations, I will be able to work towards a better future for my family.”
When asked about his thoughts on the assistance the Government has provided for young men like him through the Ministry of Forestry’s tree planting consultations, Jo expressed his heartfelt thanks in tears. “Most times when people see youth from the village, they think we are incapable of living a good life.
Through this 30 Million Trees in 15 Years campaign, doors of opportunity such as this certificate have opened up for us and for that I thank the Government and staff of the Ministry of Forestry who have greatly assisted us.”
“My younger siblings may not know the importance of planting trees, so I’m doing this for them and the future generation of Koro. Every tree planted on this island is for them.”
Mr. Lomavere has plans of registering with the National Employment Center and has hopes of securing a job of tree planting in Australia when the opportunity arises.