Sativas Opportunity of a Life Time

I am writing this on behalf of a strong young lady named Sativa Skylah Swahili Tarau-Peehikuru. I have had the pleasure of knowing Sativa for the past 4 years as a student, as a coach and as a mentor to some degree. Through the course of knowing Sativa we explored her growing passion for Rugby, This passion lead her on a journey to apply and receive a scholarship to Lindenwood University, Missouri, USA. With the help of her Whanau, the Foreman Family, Her friends, Mere Baker and Billy Nicholas, Lindenwood’s women's Rugby Coach and Program Manager, Sativa has been allowed an opportunity most could only dream of and whilst most aspects of her schooling life have been taken care of we still find ourselves as friends and family asking for a little bit of financial help to see her be able to take up this enriching and life changing opportunity. I would like to invite you to read Sativa’s story please and if you can help us in anyway shape or form we would be incredibly grateful.

Sativa comes from Helensville a small town Northwest of Auckland, New Zealand. Sativa has had a natural sporting ability her whole life and has had major successes in Touch Rugby, Waka Ama and Rugby while she was at Kaipara College and beyond. Her sporting success has only been mirrored by her academic success, Sativa gained university entrance qualifications and was a student leader while at Kaipara College. To say Sativa was an outstanding student and athlete would be to under value what she has been through and how big an opportunity this Scholarship is for her.

Sativa is the second daughter of Lisa and Hori Bedggood, the third oldest in a family of ten. Sativa when I met her was in Year 12 at Kaipara College, this was in 2015 and the same year her younger brother was to pass away. Sativa through pure grit, determination, family, friends and rugby stayed in school and continued to work hard, when many older and wiser would have turned to grief.

It was in 2016 where Sativa’s road got harder as Sativa’s family had to move to Kaitaia, Far North, New Zealand for work. Sativa and her parents knew that her best opportunities in life lay at staying at Kaipara College to finish her schooling. So Sativa stayed in Helensville under the care of the Foreman Family who treated her as much as their own, as anybody. Again Sativa could have been swallowed up by grief but again she prevailed, finishing school with university entrance, being a Student leader, co-captaining Kaipara College Rugby to North Harbour Championships in sevens and 10’s and 3rd place at Nationals top 4, winning every Northern Region Rugby Trophy allotted to under 19/18 woman, as well as co-captaining many of those sides.

2017 loomed ominously for Sativa, she was drawn to wanting to join her family in Kaitaia, but knew the opportunities that she could harness in Helensville were the best for her. She stayed on and continued to finish her application for Lindenwood University. Sativa worked full time saving money and trained with North Harbour Women's Rugby Development Squad, under the guidance of Bill Wigglesworth. In August, Sativa made the Journey to Missouri and Lindenwood College to start her Rugby and university life there, the first time she has been overseas without it being on a school based trip. Since being there Sativa has become a regular starter on the Left wing for Lindenwood’s First team, a defensive powerhouse she has really made her mark as a freshman. Not only has Sativa been accomplishing great things on the rugby field but she has been getting outstanding grades off the field as well. She is a diligent and hard worker and although misses home, she is determined to take this opportunity with both hands and come back with a world of experience and be a role model to people.

Sativa hasn’t had the easiest road to get where she is today and her gratitude to help keep her on this path would be immense Im sure. We would all really appreciate any support you could give to help allow a young Lady achieve something she never thought possible in her wildest dreams.