A FAMILY living rough in Nadelei, Vatukoula, will soon find their way back to the warmth and the security of a home, thanks to the generosity of a young Fiji-born New Zealand businessman.
The road "home" for the Kuinikoro family has been long and strewn with obstacles and pain.
Ravindra Chandar said he was moved by Eremasi Kuinikoro's story which was highlighted in The Fiji Times last week.
The former Lelean Memorial Secondary School student said he was ready to build a one-bedroom home and would travel to Fiji with a builder on March 28.
He has already sent an alert via facebook to all former students of his school seeking volunteers for the project. Several former pupils have responded to his call, including former Fiji sevens rugby coach Epeli Lagiloa.
"Eremasi's struggles touched me," said Mr Chandar when contacted yesterday.
"I read this article in the middle of the night with my 15-month-old daughter sleeping next to me and it made me cry, so I decided that I will do this for the family."
Mr Chandar's campaign to help the family began with a call to this newspaper to establish contacts with Nadelei Catholic Primary School teachers and his former Lelean Memorial Secondary School classmates.
"At this stage, I am looking to build a one-bedroom house and the exact cost I don't know. I will be buying the building materials when I reach Fiji on the 28th of this month. I am getting a builder with me from New Zealand," he said.
He also revealed that Nadelei Catholic Primary headteacher Leone Raselala has agreed to prepare the area for the new Kuinikoro home.
"He has agreed to get the holes for the post dug before I get there, so I will send him the dimensions for the floor plan next week.
"Manpower is what I need the most but if people are willing to donate other things which can help with the building and furnishing of the house they are more than welcome and I can be reached on my email address." Mr Chandar's email address is mentist_ii@yahoo.com.au.