IT'S like a mother and daughter relationship between Mariana Fong Toy and the 30 boarders under her care.
Mrs Fong Toy, 50, the matron of Saint Mary's Hostel in Labasa, provides comfort and guidance to the children.
She has, during school terms, taken the place of parents in attending to the girls' daily needs.
The girls, who come from villages of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata, attend primary and secondary schools in Labasa.
In the past four years at the hostel, Mrs Fong Toy's love, care and shoulders have been wings of comfort for the girls who regard her as their mother and pillar of strength.
Not only does she offer love and tender care, but she also steps in when the girls run out of money to buy their needs and pay bus fares to school.
"It's not easy looking after 30 girls of all ages from different backgrounds. It only takes the strength and power of God to help me fulfil my duties as matron.
"The girls all have different characters and come from different backgrounds so it's quite a challenge to deal with the different backgrounds. I have managed and seen a difference in their attitude after we start sharing about the problems," Mrs Fong Toy said.
Being a mother of three sons has somehow lightened the task of being mother to the 30 "daughters".
"I have three sons but no daughters so these 30 girls are my daughters. We always enjoy each other's company as we joke about issues and are very open with each other.
"They share to me some challenges they face in school like boys that admire them, and so I always advice them how to handle such situations.
"Most of the time when I advise them about things to do with certain issues facing them, they laugh at me, probably because I am old fashioned," Mrs Fong Toy said.
In attending to their financial needs, Mrs Fong Toy farms with the girls and sells the vegetables at the Labasa Market.
"We have our own clients and middlemen that we sell the vegetables to and the money we receive from there is kept in a pool which is only used when the girls are in need. At times, when they don't have their fare and when they need to buy girl's stuff, the money from selling vegetables is used to meet their needs," Mrs Fong Toy said.
"Every morning at 4.30am, I am up to prepare their breakfast and lunches to school and a group is usually rostered to help me out."
There have been occasions when Mrs Fong Toy would encourage the girls to share their problems with her, especially after she notices a change in their behaviour.
Most importantly, she believes, a good relationship with the girls' parents must prevail in order to build a good relationship with the girls.
"At times they come crying because they don't have any bus fare or no money at all to buy something they need so that is when we use the vegetable money.
"These girls are just daughters to me and I always miss them during the school holidays."
