Fiji Kids to GYLS 2024

Bula (Fijian for Hello) All;

My name is Bill Keefe. My wife Nowdla and I are trying to help raise a few dollars for some kids from Fiji who are attending this years Global Youth Leadership Summit in San Diego CA.

Each year the Tony Robbins Foundation puts on an incredible event for young people from all over the world between the ages of 14-16. The event is the Global Youth Leadership Summit (aka GYLS) and this year (2024) it is taking place July 26-31 at a university campus in San Diego, CA USA.

Five lucky kids from Fiji have been awarded full scholarships to the event by the Tony Robbins Foundation. These scholarships include air transportation to and from thier homes here in Fiji to the event, room and board at the event, and full event tuition.

This years participants for the year 1 program are Pete Barivilala, Kelera Vabaki, and Therese Smith. We also have 2 participants from last years program that were invited back to the event to participate in a year 2 program. They are Anya Prasad and Ian Neri. All of these young people are children of Namale Resort employees. They were selected on the basis of their school performance, involvement in community service, and a personal interview with GYLS organizers.

Although all event related costs and transportation are covered by their scholarships are covered, there are still some ancillary costs that they themselves are responsible for. They and their parents must cover the costs of obtaining a passport and also obtaining a VISA from the US Embassy allowing them to visit the US for the event. For Fiji families these are not inconsequential costs as it involves travelling to Fiji's capital city, Suva, located on another island.

This year the kids will be arriving into the USA two days before the event actually begins. This year Nowdla will be chaperoning the group and making sure that everyone gets to the event on time on the 26th. For those 2 days though we need to arrange accommodations & meals for the 5 participants. It has also been a tradition each year to show the kids a little bit of life in the USA before the event begins. For most of the kids, this will not only be their first time in the USA. This experience may also be the first time they have left the island of Vanua Levu and the first time they have flown on an airplane!

In 2023 I was the chaperone for the trip and I took the team to the Knotts Berry Farm Amusement Park, did a drive thru at In-N-Out Burger, and introduced them to the western side of the Pacific Ocean and California Beaches.

The kids are working hard to save their own money for the trip however opportunities for 14, 15, and 16 year olds in Fiji to do so are very limited. Most are from large families and it can be challenging for their parents to send them off with adequate US funds for the trip. I know that times are difficult for some right now and to that note we completely understand. If you do find that you have a few dollars to spare and you would like to help make this opportunity a trip of a lifetime for a few young people from Fiji, any donation you may be in a position to give would be greatly appreciated. Our goal is to raise about $250.00 USD for each of the participants to cover the above mentioned expenses. If there is any left over, there may be a trip back to Knotts Berry Farm ! Who knows ?

Vinaka Vakalevu (Thank You Very Much in Fijian) for anything you may be able to do to help. We will post updates as their trip dates get closer.