Support for Arona Tinilau-Taotua on an Educational and Leadership Journey to Vietnam (College Trip)

Talofa lava, Mālō ni,

My name is Arona Tinilau-Taotua. I am 15 years of age. I grew up in Porirua and was cared for by two amazing women who have helped shaped me into the person that I am today. Both my aunty Jenny Taotua and my Mum Alofa Silipa, although she is not my biological mother she has been there for me through the good and the bad and I am forever indebted to them both.

I have lived in Porirua all my life and I have grown up in an environment where some people have told me that I will not amount to anything. As a Pasifika young male, I chose to go against the negative comments; it has only fuelled my desire to do and be better and I have taken it upon myself to always aim to strive towards excellence in everything I do. I also try and do my best for the two people who helped raised me so that I can give back to them.

I currently attend Aotea College in Porirua and in December of 2019 a group of 20 students including myself will be heading to Vietnam and Cambodia on a school expedition organised by the organisation called 'ANTIPODEANS'.

This is a 3-4 week journey through a developing country, it is a trip about giving back to others - growing my leadership, independence as well as gaining a new perspective on life and seeing the world through another lens.

I have been fundraising for over a year now and have managed to raise $3000, I still need another $4500 to pay for the full cost of the one month trip to Vietnam & Cambodia by August 28th 2019.

I am therefore kindly seeking your support to help me get there. This will be a life changing expedition and journey for me and I know that I will bring back a lot of skills, gratitude and gained confidence to be an influential leader for our youth community in Porirua.

My aunty Jenny Taotua will take care of the funds for me and I thank you again for all your support. You are not only just supporting me but also investing in my life as a person but also as a youth and as an ambassador for our Wellington community. For this school expedition, we are going over to help and build relationships with communities, invest in people less fortunate than ourselves and learn about another culture and country.

God bless!