Good evening, Talofa, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Kia Ora.

My name is Sateleni Kalapu, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak at the AGM.

I come from the paradise island nation of Tuvalu. When I was 31 years old, I went to study in Fiji on a scholarship. I studied nursing in Fiji and went back to work in Tuvalu for 5 years before coming to New Zealand in 2009. I am married and I have seven children. One of them was born in Tuvalu, one was born in Fiji and five were born here in New Zealand.

I first came to Literacy Waitākere in 2012 for a one-on-one IELTS class. I wanted to pass the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with a 6.5 score, so that I could qualify as a nurse in New Zealand. My plan was delayed because of family commitments. I came back to the IELTS class at Literacy Waitākere again in 2018, but I couldn’t carry on, because I had no one to help me with my kids.

But my connection with Literacy Waitakere didn’t stop there.

During lockdown in 2019, my Whaea Akonga Anne connected me to a digital literacy course so that I could study online with a Chromebook. I am very grateful to Literacy Waitākere for that opportunity.

In early February, I was accepted by MIT to study a Level 5 NZ Diploma in Enrolled Nursing course. During the course I realised how much I needed to use the things I learned in my IELTS classes here at Literacy Waitākere. Things like paraphrasing, and structuring an academic essay with an introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. Also, there was an assignment with the word “stereotype” in it, and I remembered learning it in my IELTS class.

Then I found out about the Level 7 Graduate Diploma in Nursing Pacific offered by the Whitireia Polytechnic, starting in July. It’s an 18-month long course, and when I finish, I can finally fulfill my dream of working as a nurse in Aotearoa.

I decided to come back to Literacy Waitākere for a third time to brush up on my academic English skills before I start my Level 7 Nursing course.
So here I am, starting my journey with you.

Faafetai lasi.

In April 2025, I qualified as a registered nurse. My dream has come true! Follow your dream.