Pou Uliefu’s a baker during the day and full-time student at Ignite College cookery school in Manukau, Auckland is a recipient of the 2022/2023 Prime Minister’s Scholarships announced this month.
The mother of four says, “I felt overwhelmed, excited, and most of all, thankful. I had dreamed of formal study, to gain a qualification that recognised my skills in the kitchen, but for a very long time, this was not possible – in Samoa or New Zealand – because I couldn’t afford the time away from work or family commitments.”
Funded by the New Zealand Government and administered by Education New Zealand – Manapou ki te Ao, 111 scholarships are granted annually to support New Zealanders’ learning experiences abroad. Recipients are selected for being community-minded, culturally aware, ambassadorial and adaptable. They will benefit from full-time study to be completed in their choice of 12 destination countries in Asia and Latin America.
The scholarship enables Pou to travel to Singapore in February for a six-week internship at the SHATEC International Hotel and Tourism School.
Ignite Colleges Cookery Tutor Maigie Atienza said she nominated Pou for the scholarship because she is a stand-out student.
“Pou is a very dedicated student who has the passion to be creative in making her dishes. She has a very good balance of flavour and texture in what she cooks or the dishes she creates in the kitchen. She has shown amazing skills and attitude and is very keen to master the techniques being taught to her and embrace new learning in a very positive way.
Currently studying towards the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 3), Pou plans to complete her qualifications to Level 5 and is excited to step up in her learning.
“I am keen to understand management, supplier relationships and grow my communication skills.
“This is a time for me to shine, to take my chef’s career to the next level. I want to make my family, especially my kids, proud. I hope the opportunity will open new doors.”
Pou Uliefu’s a baker during the day and full-time student at Ignite College cookery school in Manukau, Auckland is a recipient of the 2022/2023 Prime Minister’s Scholarships announced this month.
The mother of four says, “I felt overwhelmed, excited, and most of all, thankful. I had dreamed of formal study, to gain a qualification that recognised my skills in the kitchen, but for a very long time, this was not possible – in Samoa or New Zealand – because I couldn’t afford the time away from work or family commitments.”
Funded by the New Zealand Government and administered by Education New Zealand – Manapou ki te Ao, 111 scholarships are granted annually to support New Zealanders’ learning experiences abroad. Recipients are selected for being community-minded, culturally aware, ambassadorial and adaptable. They will benefit from full-time study to be completed in their choice of 12 destination countries in Asia and Latin America.
The scholarship enables Pou to travel to Singapore in February for a six-week internship at the SHATEC International Hotel and Tourism School.
Ignite Colleges Cookery Tutor Maigie Atienza said she nominated Pou for the scholarship because she is a stand-out student.
“Pou is a very dedicated student who has the passion to be creative in making her dishes. She has a very good balance of flavour and texture in what she cooks or the dishes she creates in the kitchen. She has shown amazing skills and attitude and is very keen to master the techniques being taught to her and embrace new learning in a very positive way.
Currently studying towards the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 3), Pou plans to complete her qualifications to Level 5 and is excited to step up in her learning.
“I am keen to understand management, supplier relationships and grow my communication skills.
“This is a time for me to shine, to take my chef’s career to the next level. I want to make my family, especially my kids, proud. I hope the opportunity will open new doors.”
