Blind former journo wins leadership award

Written by Cherelle Jackson [Image: Australia DFAT]
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Faaolo Utumapo, the first blind Samoan to graduate with a degree in Journalism and the first blind Journalist in Samoa who has worked in Government media and Radio Polynesia and now currently working for the Legislative assembly was a granted a scholarship by the Governments of Australia to study towards a Masters in Communication and Media Studies. Faaolo is one of two who received the prestigious Australia Leadership Award scheme. The awards are part of a larger scheme by the Governments of Australia, new Zealand and Samoa to broaden the educational horizons of locals. FACTS Australian Regional Development Scholarships (ARDS); Australian Development Scholarships (ADS); Distance Education (DE ): and Australia Leadership Awards (ALA) The Australian Regional Development Scholarships (ARDS) program offers scholarships to tertiary educational institutions in the Pacific Region. Awardees are expected to return home on completion of study and apply their skills to their country’s development. The Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) provide scholarships to tertiary institutions in Australia. Awardees are only sent to Australia to undertake study programs that are not offered through the Regional Institutions. The Distance Education Program (DE) is study via Distance Education. DE was recently incorporated in the Samoa program in response to the high demand from the public. Distance Education mainly caters for students who can not move to Australia and take up studies due to family and work commitments The Australia Leadership Awards (ALAs) The Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) is a regional programme within the Australian Scholarships initiative. ALA aims to develop leadership, build partnerships and linkages within the Asia-Pacific, and address priority regional issues. Award recipients are drawn from the public, private and community sectors. The objective of all scholarship programs is to assist Samoa in meeting its Human Resource Development needs for productive people with the qualifications and skills necessary for the country’s development, The major benefit of these programs is the increase in skilled and qualified human resources resulting in promotion of self reliance and equity which are major factors in sustainable development. For 2008 Intake: 10 students will be studying at Australian Institutions under the Australian Development Scholarships 2 students will be also studying at Australian Institutions under the Australian Leadership Awards 20 students will be studying at Regional Institutions under the Australian Regional Development Scholarships 5 students will be studying online at Australian Institutions under the Australian Distance Education Scholarships SPEECH Following is the speech by the Australian High Commissioner to Samoa HE. Matt Anderson at a briefing this afternoon for the scholarship students. Speaker: HE. Matt Anderson Occasion: Scholarship briefing Location: NUS, Samoa Time: 3:30pm Wednesday 2007 Style: Verbatim It is my very pleasant duty to congratulate you all – but especially the 37 students here today who are about to undertake scholarships with Australian Institutions. I am particularly pleased that 5 of you will remain in Samoa with your families, friends, support networks and employers and undertake your study through on-line distance learning. Australia’s interest in providing these scholarships, is a recognition - held jointly by the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and Samoa - that education is the key to generating employment and fuelling the growth of the private sector. That is why the Government of Australia, through AusAID has been providing scholarship awards to the Government of Samoa since 1982. 25 years later, Australia remains committed to providing scholarships in the hope that students will make the most of the training opportunities and return to Samoa with the knowledge and skills needed by the Government of Samoa in its quest towards realising this beautiful country’s full potential. In concluding, I have one request of each and every one of you. Please realise the opportunity that has been given to you. There were many, many times more applicants than scholarships available. It is therefore your duty to study hard, to learn much and return to Samoa better educated and better able to ensure Samoa, and the region, are best placed to tackle the many challenges that lie before us all. I wish you and your families a safe, holy Christmas and look forward to welcoming you all back to Samoa as graduands in the increasingly impressive alma mater of Samoans who have been educated, at least in part, in Australia. It is my sincere wish that you are made as welcome in Australia as my family and I have been made to feel here in Samoa. Soifua Enjoy the Xmas carol Silent Night on youtube Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Friday, 21 December 2007 )

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

Polls

--ADVERTISEMENTS--

Google Satellite Map of Eveni Carruthers

--ADVERTISEMENTS--

"Where the natives buy and sell"

--ADVERTISEMENTS--

Latest Comments

Samoalivers Signing Off 2008
wink

Malo lava le saasaa !!

Manu Samoa 7s Win in Uruguay
Congratulations Samoa 7s on the good job and well played games. I am proud of the the great effort p...

Manu Samoa 7s Win in Uruguay
Felicidades - Malo le taumafai and keep up the good work - Uruguay's strength is actually in soccer ...

Manu Samoa 7s Win in Uruguay
Faamalo atu i le tatou au.O lea foi ua toe faamanuiaina le au ale atunuu i faaga tama o le lakapi.fa...

Local Fans Eager For Tua vs Cameron Fight
Hi David Tua, Its your big fan from Arizona, I go onilne every week to find out when your next fight...

Social Network

Join the Newsline Team on Bebo

www.bebo.com/newslineS

Become part of the Newsline Bebo Network

Get News via your Email

Subscribe to Samoa Live News Headlines by Email

Get the Latest News on your Blackberry or PDA

Subscribe in a reader

Sounds from Samoa

Listen to broadcasts from LiveSamoa.com
Courtesy of Plantation Feet, SBC(540am) and
Radio Polynesia(99.9 FM)

http://www.samoalive.com/sliveradio.asx

Live on Weekdays from 8am to 9am

Have your Say

We want your Opinion

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
If you would like to submit a letter for possible
publication in the print edition of the Newsline,
please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

We want your News

Submit News from your Area
If you would like to submit News for possible
publication in both the online and print version
of Newsline please feel free to email us
at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Become a News Blogger
Have a passion for writing? Interested in
writing articles for Newsline? Email us
at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
We are looking for Bloggers from
around the world to contribute to our site.