It is every child's dream that they have people around them who will always protect them.

That is a critical need for any child as they are the most vulnerable in the society.

With that in mind, students of Nakelo District School will tonight portray their theme "Throwing daylight on tomorrow's darkness, a message on Child Abuse" in the Junior Division finals of the FM96 Tadra Kahani with TFL and Fijivillage.

According to statistics from Save the Children, Police and Social Welfare Ministry there are already 77 reported child sexual abuse cases for the first quarter of this year compared to 54 reported cases in 2008 and 116 cases last year.

Last year, there were a total of 181 reported child abuse cases.

These cases included negligence, physical abuse and emotional abuse.

Liaison teacher for Nakelo District School, Niumaia Rawalai said the students from Nakelo want to ensure that people stand up and take action after seeing their performance.

Rawalai said the issue of child abuse needs to be addressed urgently.

Meanwhile some good news has come for many Nakelo District School over the past months as Rawalai said about two thirds of the students are now travelling by bus to school.

 
He said previously, many students were walking upto 5 kilometres to school and back however the free bus fare assistance has helped these students overcome this issue.

It is a story that goes back 136 years ago and the new generation of Ratu Ravuama Memorial School in Tailevu will be sharing this story tonight in the Junior division finals of the FM 96 Tadra Kahani with TFL and Fijivillage.

Head Teacher, Makelesi Turagacati said the people of Mokani where the school is located are the traditional warriors for the then Vunivalu of Bau, Ratu Seru Cakobau and it was their duty during that time of cannibalism to go to Nubutautau in Navosa to check whether Reverend Tomas Baker was still alive but unfortunately out of the 8 that went to investigate, only one returned home to inform them of what had happened.

Turagacati added that a man by the name of Waisea was the lone survivor and when he returned to the village it was on a piece of land where he relayed the message to their elders.

The land is now used to plant cassava and make AbilaA to sell in the market which is the only source of income for them to send their children to school and most of them now hold top positions in the civil service and the private sector.

Nadi Airport School, Drasa Avenue School, St Joseph the Worker, Ratu Ravuama Memorial School, International Primary School Suva, Rishikul Primary, Bainivalu Primary, St Agnes Primary, Nakelo District School and title holders Pacific Harbour Multi-Cultural School will take to the stage in the Tadra Kahani Junior Division finals tonight.

Tickets are being sold at the home of Fijivillage at 231 Waimanu Road, Village Six Cinemas Suva and the Sugar Cane Growers Council building in Lautoka.



Story by: Vijay Narayan and Dreu Vukailagi