Melisa Fotu is the first Pacific recipient to receive the Pacific scholarship for Wintec kaimahi and Kaiārahi – Pacific (community and partnership). The Future Leaders of Oceania Scholarship (FLO) recognises the aspirations of developing emerging Pacific leaders and its name acknowledges the scope and breadth of its geographical reach.
The objective of the FLO Scholarship is to encourage the development of Pacific leadership in tertiary education, through the provision of opportunities for advanced professional development. It is designed to recognise Pacific kaimahi with leadership potential.
The scholarship has a maximum value of $15,000 to go towards their development and one week’s additional professional development leave.
Of Cook Island and Tongan heritage Melisa says the scholarship will help with her research looking into Pacific Women’s Health, focusing on breast cancer.
“Our family lost our mum to breast cancer 21 years ago and I am also a vaine (woman), who is now in remission of breast cancer. Through my mum’s experience we learnt so much regarding our health system, from what was available then, and through my experience I’ve learnt about what’s available now. That is the real driving force for me”.
Melisa says this scholarship is not just for her. “It’s for my family, Hamilton Cook Islands Association (HAMCIA) community, Pacific and it’s bigger than that too. I think about how my girls have me, and I want them to look up to me and think our mum is a survivor of breast cancer, but she’s also the first one to win a scholarship like this.”
