Hello Friends, My name is Anne Auburn, and I am supporting Maria Masilekaleka in continuing her education with advanced studies in Australia in Leadership and Management. I have known Maria since she was 3 years old as her mother, Sita, worked for me during the 5 years I lived on the main island of Viti Levu in the Fiji Islands with my family.

Sita became a widow when her husband died in a construction accident. She was left without support (no accident insurance in that country) and needed to support her two young daughters and a one-month-old son on her own. I hired Sita to work part-time as a domestic helper for my small children and paid her full-time wages. Then arranged for her to train as a kindergarten teacher. She taught the local and expats' children at the Pacific Harbour Int'l School for 25 years. She retired last year. She put her children through school, and both daughters became teachers. Sita, is the most loving and strongest woman I have ever known. I want to fuel her daughter's desire to educate girls as she did for her daughters.

Maria has been accepted into a program in Melbourne, AU, and her husband and mother will take care of her 4 children in Fiji.

She has funds saved, and they are restricted to only use for her education fees. I have already paid $1200 for the registration fees. The balance for a Visa, Country Health Insurance and Airfare total $2,550.

I thought you might contribute the cost of one tank of gas to help fuel a woman's dream to make a difference in many young people's lives.

(Any amount would be appreciated.)

Vinaka vaka levu, (Thank you in Fijian)

With love,

Annie or Auntie Annie as I am known in Fiji.

Maria thanks you from her sweet, sweet heart.