A joint Wellbeing and Cultural Evening with Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) and the Pacific Island Advisory & Charitable Trust (PIACT), was held recently in PIACT’s Bowmont Street facilities. The purpose of the event was to provide Southland’s Pasifika community with information about the services and educational opportunities provided for Pasifika people by both PIACT and SIT.
The evening was opened by PIACT Board Deputy Chair, Meke Lome, who welcomed around 70 attendees and said that the partnership between the two organisations had developed over a long time and was very beneficial for both parties. PIACT staff presented information on the many support services available for Pasifika people at PIACT, including health, counselling, and community support.
SIT staff spoke about the pastoral support services as well as the study choices available at SIT. They encouraged attendees to think outside typical options, and consider the broader range of tertiary qualifications, which may open new doors and enhance career opportunities for them. Attendees were also informed on SIT’s supportive learning environment offered to Pasifika students, giving each learner the best chance to succeed in their studies.
SIT Pasifika Liaison, Sam Sala, said the night was successful. “It was great … it was good to see PIACT and SIT working well together and keeping that partnership going and having both organisations showcasing the support they have to offer to our Pasifika students and the community.”
Manaaki Scholar, Davinna Maru from Papua New Guinea, spoke at the event informing the attendees about her learning journey whilst studying the Level 6 Diploma in Hospitality Management at SIT Invercargill campus, which she started in February.
“The SIT environment in general – is very conducive to study,” she remarked and highlighted some of her course experiences: “…my tutors are very helpful, and the facilities are made available for us students to take advantage of. And then there’s Student Support Services, they come up with so many programmes for us.”
She also elaborated on the classroom environment. “The activities we do in the classroom help us to mingle, get out of our comfort zones, in that way we learn off each other, and we get to know each other’s cultures, in doing so we have that mutual respect for one another.”
Ms Maru advised prospective students to come to SIT with an open mind. “You may find out more as you study; another course may interest you as you network with other students.”
Ms Maru said for her, coming to SIT to study has been a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. “It’s been life changing in the sense that you don’t really know what you’re getting yourself into. It’s a whole other level for me to be here, on the ground, experiencing this,” adding that studying abroad “opens up your mind; it gives you a lot of strength and allows you to see the world in a different light.”
Mr Sala said the evening ticked a lot of boxes for the Pasifika community, giving them the opportunity to spend time in each other’s company, while enjoying cultural music, song and dance, as well as some traditional Pasifika food. It was important for the community to be together in this customary way, to talk with each other and support and encourage one another as they sought to grow through training and qualifications.