The Australian Government is offering scholarships targeting anyone in the Pacific Islands (including Tonga) who has worked or volunteered in social welfare or community development.

The scholarship offers applicants the opportunity to undertake an 18-month study for a Diploma in Leadership, Governance and Human Rights at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Suva, Fiji.

Since 2013, the Australian government has offered the scholarship to 27 people throughout the Pacific Islands. Recipients have been diverse, and have included police officers, nurses, church leaders and youth candidates.

One recipient of the scholarship, Maria Buama of Vanuatu, stated that the courses inspired her to share personal experiences of social injustices in her country. She stated “In the first semester of 2013, I never spoke in class, mainly because I was never allowed to speak or express myself in my community except in the boundaries of my kitchen. But by the second semester, I gained my confidence and couldn’t stop sharing my stories for the other students to learn from. If I don’t speak up, the issues will not be known and the cycle of the issues will continue,”.

The deadline for scholarship applications is 9 January 2015. To find about applying for the scholarship, visit the USP website or follow this link http://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=12225 [2]