“A son’s self-sacrifice“ - The Fiji Times

The Fiji Times had attended the BDTP 2023 Orientation Ceremony on Saturday, 18 February 2023. One of our ACMs captured the attention of the Reporters, primarily due to the fact that how is it that one of UNA Fiji’s Youngest Member is the Coordinator of Global Classroom and Protocol Team of UNA Fiji. Therefore, please find below, the Fiji Times Article on Hon. Mr. Joshua Solomone.

”Sacrificing one’s life in order to benefit others brings fulfillment and profound happiness.

Joshua Solomone can vouch for that. The young man graduated from Dudley High School in 2022 and was destined for higher education but he put his dream of becoming a heart surgeon on hold due to financial restraints.

“I come from a big family and there are seven of us altogether,” Mr Solomone said.

“My parents opted to pay for my tuition fees but then I declined the offer because I thought of my sibling. “So I told them that I would wait for five years and then I’ll pay my own tuition fees.”

His principal at DHS urged him to take up Basic Diplomacy Training Programme (BDTP) offered at United Nations Association of Fiji (UNA–Fiji). UNA-Fiji is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that provides diplomacy training to enrolled students during weekends.

It educates and engages citizens on the work of the UN and global issues that affect the world.

“I didn’t know about this program until the school principal, Mr Sanjay Prasad told me.” It was because of the close partnership that UNFA-Fiji had with DHS that Joshua was able to join. “Before I joined this program, I didn’t have the confidence to like stand up in a big crowd and talk. I wasn’t that bold enough. “I was always like an introvert, always sticking to myself. ” But after he joined the program, he was surprised with what he gained. “I was able to come out of my comfort zone and have the confidence to do public speaking.”

Aside from diplomacy training during the weekends, Joshua works on weekdays and saves up money for his tuition. “I am working at the Grid Security database control centre where I am one of the alarm monitoring officers. “On weekdays I am at work but at weekends I’m here for diplomacy training.”

Joshua said it was through time management that he was able to juggle his diplomacy training and work demands. “Well, I would say proper time management is how I am able to make school and work go together.

“For me, when I wake up early in the morning I’ve got certain chores that I have to do… so I have to go according to schedule. “I have always wanted to become a doctor, a heart surgeon, so I hope that I would be able to continue with my studies in maybe two to three years.”

Joshua’s advice to young people is “there is no end to education when the sky is the limit”

To view the Article Posted by The Fiji Times, click here!