Kelera Serelini
SUVA: Popular all-girl pop group Destiny's Child sang about how women were making their own money in their song "Independent Women" a few years back and it was well-liked by young women all over the world.
The same sentiment is shared by Fiji's Ministry of Women and Social Welfare communication officer Anshu Mala.
At 26, this young woman from Ba has it all planned out and is not in a hurry to be committed to anything else except her work.
She said it is her hard work and perseverance that gained her the respect and the admiration from her society.
"I have been very committed to my work," she said of the reason she preferred to remain single.
"I believe as a young person in this tough time, it is very important for a woman to be independent.
"Independent in the sense a woman should be able to stand on her own two feet.
"She should be able to support herself without depending on anyone."
Determined young
Mala was brought up in Nukuloa settlement a few minutes drive away from Ba town and attended Nukuloa primary and secondary school before joining Xavier College, Namosau, Ba.
Mala is the only girl in a family of four siblings.
It was her parents who instilled hard work and determination in her when she was still a young girl, helping her parents in the farm.
"My parents were farmers and they sacrificed a lot to get me educated," she said.
"After I scored well during my Fiji Junior Certificate exam, Brother George from Xavier College asked me to consider furthering my studies at Xavier College and I did so because my family knew him very well and he was also a family friend.
"I ended up being educated there and eventually went to tertiary education at the University of the South Pacific."
So why did she opt for the media industry as her profession?
"At a young age I was very interested in the media and how the industry operates," Mala said.
'Voice of the people'
"I believe that the media is the voice of the people and also a medium in which one can take the message across to individuals.
"Being in journalism excites me, we meet so many people - it is the type of profession I wanted to be involved in."
After finishing a double major bachelor's degree in Journalism and Information Systems, Mala joined FijiLive as an online reporter before scoring an opportunity to work for the Ministry of Social Welfare and Women.
Her job involves organising press conferences, writing press releases and advocating the role of the ministry.
Mala advises young women to follow their dreams even if they were brought up in the village like her.
"In this job I have been able to accompany the minister on outer island trips and this is one of the great things about working as a communications officer for this ministry," Mala said.
"I recently went to Bau Island with the Minister for Women, Jiko Luveni, and it was a lovely experience.
"I have travelled to Taveuni, Dreketi, Kadavu, Namosi; it was through my profession I was able to travel to all these places.
"As a woman and coming from a farming background, I am able to relate with the struggles of the many women we get to visit.
"So I urge all the young women out there to follow their dreams and do whatever their heart desires when it comes to choosing a profession," she said. - The Fiji Times/Pacific Media Watch
Pacific Media Watch
