Latest news with #Tuvaluan
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
From Māngere To Medicine: Pacific Migrant Dreams Big
Article – Mary Afemata – Local Democracy Reporter Māngere teen Selina Camillo, 18, migrated from Fiji to Māngere just a few years ago, but she's already making academic waves as she works towards becoming a heart surgeon. Since setting foot in Aotearoa for the first time in December 2022, Camillo has topped her class, served as head girl at Southern Cross Campus, and is now studying at the University of Auckland – the first of her family to do so. Studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, she is one of only 16 students awarded a Milford Foundation Scholarship this year, which provides up to $10,000 annually. She also received a University of Auckland Top Achiever Scholarship. The funding has helped ease the cost pressure of studying, as she didn't want to be a financial burden for her parents, who secured permanent residency in January this year. 'I was always worried about how am I going to pay for my tuition fees,' she says. 'It really made me feel that it will bring me closer to achieving my dream of becoming a doctor.' Her interest in the human heart stems back to a young age in Fiji and is what motivated her to specialise in cardiology. 'That was the first organ that I was taught in year 7 back home,' she says. Camillo grew up seeing heart disease impact her family and other Pacific households, a pattern that school later confirmed was part of a global trend as one of the leading causes of death. 'So I was very interested in just being able to get into that field as a Pacifica to be able to help our people not only to treat the disease but also to help promote healthy lifestyle and bring a reduction to lives being affected by heart disease.' Through her academic success, Camillo is proud to highlight her culture. The scarcity of Pacific professionals in medicine empowers her, and she says visibility matters: 'So far I don't know any Rotuman doctor here nor my family, but there's only one Tuvaluan doctor I know who's based in Wellington,' she says. '[Representation] is very important, especially coming from very small islands, Tuvalu and Rotuma. Most people don't even know where Rotuma is at all.' Still, Camillo remains undeterred, her motivation is clear. 'I just want to be able to represent my island, my culture.' Only 981 people in New Zealand identified as Rotuman and 4653 as Tuvaluan, according to the 2018 Census, With small numbers, these groups are often lumped into the broader 'Other Pacific Peoples' category in education and government data, limiting their visibility and access to targeted resources. Most assume she is Samoan, but she has to correct them by saying she's Rotuman or Tuvaluan – a culture many are unfamiliar with, she says. 'It helps people to know more about my people, my culture. So sometimes I feel proud of being able to put my culture somewhere that's good for others to see and also learn something new.' She says her cultural upbringing shaped her values and her drive. 'Tuvaluan is my first language, mother tongue,' she says. 'Growing up with my grandparents and mum in Tuvalu, I learned a lot about my culture … we were just dependent on fishing and plantation.' Also raised in Fiji, she learned to read using a Bible. 'My first book was the Bible because we couldn't really afford books. And by the end of Year 2, I also topped Year 2 in Fiji.' She credits her grandparents' values – respect, humility, and discipline – with guiding her academic journey. 'I just wanted to be a role model to my siblings as I wanted to make a change in my family to make my parents proud in performing well in school.' Milford Foundation CEO Bryce Marsden says the scholarship is about more than financial support. 'We've seen fantastic results from our first two cohorts. We look forward to the 2025 group joining them as future leaders and visionaries.' This year, the Foundation has committed nearly $460,000 across three cohorts. Camillo says her family is her 'why' and hopes to inspire others. 'Do not let your circumstances make you feel doubt about yourself or limit you from reaching your goals,' she says. 'Just grab every opportunity.'
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
From Māngere To Medicine: Pacific Migrant Dreams Big
Article – Mary Afemata – Local Democracy Reporter The scarcity of Pacific professionals in medicine empowers her, and she says visibility matters. Māngere teen Selina Camillo, 18, migrated from Fiji to Māngere just a few years ago, but she's already making academic waves as she works towards becoming a heart surgeon. Since setting foot in Aotearoa for the first time in December 2022, Camillo has topped her class, served as head girl at Southern Cross Campus, and is now studying at the University of Auckland – the first of her family to do so. Studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, she is one of only 16 students awarded a Milford Foundation Scholarship this year, which provides up to $10,000 annually. She also received a University of Auckland Top Achiever Scholarship. The funding has helped ease the cost pressure of studying, as she didn't want to be a financial burden for her parents, who secured permanent residency in January this year. 'I was always worried about how am I going to pay for my tuition fees,' she says. 'It really made me feel that it will bring me closer to achieving my dream of becoming a doctor.' Her interest in the human heart stems back to a young age in Fiji and is what motivated her to specialise in cardiology. 'That was the first organ that I was taught in year 7 back home,' she says. Camillo grew up seeing heart disease impact her family and other Pacific households, a pattern that school later confirmed was part of a global trend as one of the leading causes of death. 'So I was very interested in just being able to get into that field as a Pacifica to be able to help our people not only to treat the disease but also to help promote healthy lifestyle and bring a reduction to lives being affected by heart disease.' Through her academic success, Camillo is proud to highlight her culture. The scarcity of Pacific professionals in medicine empowers her, and she says visibility matters: 'So far I don't know any Rotuman doctor here nor my family, but there's only one Tuvaluan doctor I know who's based in Wellington,' she says. '[Representation] is very important, especially coming from very small islands, Tuvalu and Rotuma. Most people don't even know where Rotuma is at all.' Still, Camillo remains undeterred, her motivation is clear. 'I just want to be able to represent my island, my culture.' Only 981 people in New Zealand identified as Rotuman and 4653 as Tuvaluan, according to the 2018 Census, With small numbers, these groups are often lumped into the broader 'Other Pacific Peoples' category in education and government data, limiting their visibility and access to targeted resources. Most assume she is Samoan, but she has to correct them by saying she's Rotuman or Tuvaluan – a culture many are unfamiliar with, she says. 'It helps people to know more about my people, my culture. So sometimes I feel proud of being able to put my culture somewhere that's good for others to see and also learn something new.' She says her cultural upbringing shaped her values and her drive. 'Tuvaluan is my first language, mother tongue,' she says. 'Growing up with my grandparents and mum in Tuvalu, I learned a lot about my culture … we were just dependent on fishing and plantation.' Also raised in Fiji, she learned to read using a Bible. 'My first book was the Bible because we couldn't really afford books. And by the end of Year 2, I also topped Year 2 in Fiji.' She credits her grandparents' values – respect, humility, and discipline – with guiding her academic journey. 'I just wanted to be a role model to my siblings as I wanted to make a change in my family to make my parents proud in performing well in school.' Milford Foundation CEO Bryce Marsden says the scholarship is about more than financial support. 'We've seen fantastic results from our first two cohorts. We look forward to the 2025 group joining them as future leaders and visionaries.' This year, the Foundation has committed nearly $460,000 across three cohorts. Camillo says her family is her 'why' and hopes to inspire others. 'Do not let your circumstances make you feel doubt about yourself or limit you from reaching your goals,' she says. 'Just grab every opportunity.'
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
From Māngere To Medicine: Pacific Migrant Dreams Big
Māngere teen Selina Camillo, 18, migrated from Fiji to Māngere just a few years ago, but she's already making academic waves as she works towards becoming a heart surgeon. Since setting foot in Aotearoa for the first time in December 2022, Camillo has topped her class, served as head girl at Southern Cross Campus, and is now studying at the University of Auckland - the first of her family to do so. Studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, she is one of only 16 students awarded a Milford Foundation Scholarship this year, which provides up to $10,000 annually. She also received a University of Auckland Top Achiever Scholarship. The funding has helped ease the cost pressure of studying, as she didn't want to be a financial burden for her parents, who secured permanent residency in January this year. 'I was always worried about how am I going to pay for my tuition fees,' she says. 'It really made me feel that it will bring me closer to achieving my dream of becoming a doctor.' Her interest in the human heart stems back to a young age in Fiji and is what motivated her to specialise in cardiology. 'That was the first organ that I was taught in year 7 back home,' she says. Camillo grew up seeing heart disease impact her family and other Pacific households, a pattern that school later confirmed was part of a global trend as one of the leading causes of death. 'So I was very interested in just being able to get into that field as a Pacifica to be able to help our people not only to treat the disease but also to help promote healthy lifestyle and bring a reduction to lives being affected by heart disease.' Through her academic success, Camillo is proud to highlight her culture. The scarcity of Pacific professionals in medicine empowers her, and she says visibility matters: 'So far I don't know any Rotuman doctor here nor my family, but there's only one Tuvaluan doctor I know who's based in Wellington,' she says. '[Representation] is very important, especially coming from very small islands, Tuvalu and Rotuma. Most people don't even know where Rotuma is at all.' Still, Camillo remains undeterred, her motivation is clear. 'I just want to be able to represent my island, my culture.' Only 981 people in New Zealand identified as Rotuman and 4653 as Tuvaluan, according to the 2018 Census, With small numbers, these groups are often lumped into the broader 'Other Pacific Peoples' category in education and government data, limiting their visibility and access to targeted resources. Most assume she is Samoan, but she has to correct them by saying she's Rotuman or Tuvaluan - a culture many are unfamiliar with, she says. 'It helps people to know more about my people, my culture. So sometimes I feel proud of being able to put my culture somewhere that's good for others to see and also learn something new." She says her cultural upbringing shaped her values and her drive. 'Tuvaluan is my first language, mother tongue,' she says. 'Growing up with my grandparents and mum in Tuvalu, I learned a lot about my culture … we were just dependent on fishing and plantation.' Also raised in Fiji, she learned to read using a Bible. 'My first book was the Bible because we couldn't really afford books. And by the end of Year 2, I also topped Year 2 in Fiji.' She credits her grandparents' values - respect, humility, and discipline - with guiding her academic journey. 'I just wanted to be a role model to my siblings as I wanted to make a change in my family to make my parents proud in performing well in school.' Milford Foundation CEO Bryce Marsden says the scholarship is about more than financial support. 'We've seen fantastic results from our first two cohorts. We look forward to the 2025 group joining them as future leaders and visionaries.' This year, the Foundation has committed nearly $460,000 across three cohorts. Camillo says her family is her 'why' and hopes to inspire others. 'Do not let your circumstances make you feel doubt about yourself or limit you from reaching your goals,' she says. 'Just grab every opportunity.'
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Island nation develops new strategy as 'irreversible' threat grows all around it: 'Option of last resort'
An island in the Pacific has become the poster child for our overheating planet as sea levels rise around them. Its residents are trying to adopt mitigation policies to keep their people in place. According to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, by the early 2050s, the island of Tuvalu will be surrounded by an "irreversible" additional six inches of water. The island country of Tuvalu is located about halfway between Australia and Hawai'i in the west-central Pacific Ocean. It has a mean elevation of only two meters (6.56 feet) and has already endured a sea level rise of nearly half a foot over the last thirty years, 1.5 times the global average per Reuters. A new report addresses at least two suggested solutions involving different levels of international migration. The report from the Toda Peace Institute emphasizes that Tuvaluans value their culture and sovereignty and that abandoning their country entirely can be avoided. "Relocation of the entire population is their option of last resort," according to the report. Cultural geographer Carol Farbotko is the author of the report. She pointed out that it is not certain that the small island state of 11,000 people will become uninhabitable. Tuvalu will do all it can to keep its people in place through adaptation measures to address the impacts of our warming world. "To ensure Tuvaluan culture, Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination can continue on Indigenous land and sea territory, relocation of the entire population is felt to be unacceptable – at the government level and among the people," the report said. Scientists who used a new method to calculate sea-level projections have warned that if heat-trapping pollution continues to increase, sea levels will likely climb half a meter to two meters (1.6 to 6.6 feet) by the end of this century. This rise would put many coastal communities and islands like Tuvalu at risk of being inundated by ocean waters. The American Meteorological Society's annual State of the Climate report for 2023 noted that sea levels hit a record high in tandem with record-warm ocean temperatures. The report added that sea levels have risen for 12 straight years. The kind of sea level rise projected if we don't curb heat-trapping gases released into the atmosphere would cause widespread flooding in coastal communities like Miami and New York. Should the government ban gas stoves? Yes Only in new buildings Only in restaurants No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The Toda Peace Institute report's recommendations include focusing "broadly on managing habitability risk at the outset, rather than pre-emptively jump to relocation planning" and identifying and addressing "insidious risks to sovereignty (such as depopulation through increased out migration)." A BBC report said Tuvalu is creating a digital copy of the country in the metaverse to "preserve the nation's beauty and culture—as well as the legal rights of its 11,000 citizens—for generations to come." Reducing the release of harmful heat-trapping gases into Earth's atmosphere by moving away from dirty energy sources and embracing cleaner, renewable options is crucial. Individuals can help by donating to climate-related organizations that fight for the future of our planet, talking to family and friends about climate issues, and advocating for change at work. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
