Annie’s road to success

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Annie… where there is a will, there is a way. Picture: SOPHIE RALULU

BRITISH entertainer Anita Dobson once said “we learn by misfortune”.

That is exactly what catapulted Annie Ravuna from a past that was steeped in disappointment to a future that now promises her prosperity.

The single mother of three grew up in a broken family and dropped out of school at Class Six.

Now she is the director of the Lami Christian Academy, a kindergarten school where she also teaches.

A steadfast Christian, Annie hopes to give back to children the stability and opportunities she missed growing up.

“I really didn’t believe I would end up doing what I do now but with God anything is possible,” she said, “you just have to trust him”.

In 2005, Annie’s sister Titilia, with the help of her husband David Turner, started a kindy (for free) with seven children in Bilo, Veisari, a few kilometres outside Lami Town.

The demand for pre-school at the time was so huge that in 2006, they had to move the school to Lami and enrolled 98 kids.

She learned the ropes of teaching by helping her sister and at the same time doing a few overseas teaching certificate courses.

A decade later, when her sister and brother-in-law returned to the US (2016), Annie took over the reign at the Lami Christian Academy. “Being asked to take over the school was a shocker.

“I asked God ‘how am I supposed to do this? God you better be right about this because I really don’t know why’.

“I also got constant help from my sister and her husband by phone and email. They were always behind me.”

Three years down the line, for someone who once had confidence issues, work now seems an exciting journey.

“I love my job, both the business side and the teaching side. I work eight-to-four five days a week, which keeps me pretty busy except when I am on my rest and relaxation mode, such as enjoying a few bowls with friends and family.

“When I knock off work I immediately put on mummy’s hat. I am also a grandmother of two so I’m always surrounded by children, always teaching and always looking after things.”

Teaching young children is not as easy as it sounds. Every day has its mountain of challenges but Annie is happy these provide her with opportunities to learn and grow.

“Learning is an empowering two-way process. Children learn from me as much as I learn from them. They teach me to have patience, to be compassionate and to have lots of understanding.

“They teach me how to love, hug and give a cuddle when someone is going through a rough patch. They teach me how to be a better person.”

As someone who has come a long way, she believes every child deserves an education taught in an environment grounded in good values.

“When I look back at where I came from, I keep telling myself it was through God all along, through prayer and fasting, nothing else.

“I keep challenging children to honour their parents, stay humble and make right decisions. “Mothers please love your children unconditionally.

“They will make mistakes but stay faithful to them and ask God to help you bring them up.”

Annie’s kindergarten school, based out of Isa Lei Rd in Lami, has 38 students and three teachers.

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