WORKSHEET 11
an interview with rose tam
Rose Tam is a young woman from
Nusabaruka Island, near Gizo. She is
from a large family of nine children.
There are two sets of twins and one
set of triplets in her family! Rose has a
twin brother.
After Rose finished primary school
she stayed in her village, Nusabalu,
on the island. It was not possible for
her to attend secondary school. So
she helped out at home and now she
helps to run her local youth group. She is the president of her youth group and a teacher
of Sunday School.
Some of Rose’s brothers work away from the island and Rose was worried that there
might come a time when there would be no-one there who knew how to fix the outboard
motors on their boats, so she applied to come to St Peter’s Rural Training Centre in Gizo
to do a mechanics course.
The course is for two years and costs S$100 per term (S$400 per year). This is the
equivalent of NZ$80 per year. To New Zealanders this may seem cheap, but for Rose and
her family this is a lot of money. Rose raised the money by selling fish in the market and
also by doing small paid jobs for the Dominican sisters.
FACT
• One fish can sell for between S$8 -12, depending on its size. This is the
equivalent of NZ$1.30 – NZ$2.00.
• Only 25% of all trainees enrolled at RTCs are female and they tend to be
restricted to courses in life skills, agriculture and typing courses. They are also
disadvantaged because there is less accommodation available for them at the
RTCs. (EU Report, 2012)
WORKSHEET 11
2 Contd.
an interview
NOW ISwith
THE BEST
rose TIME
tam
The following excerpt is part of an interview that a Caritas volunteer conducted with Rose.
How far is it from your village to St Peter’s Urban Training Centre?
Nusabaruka is about 20 minutes away by boat. In the morning I come down from where we
live on the hill and take a canoe to paddle to town. If I am tired, I leave my canoe at the
other end of town as it is not so far, and then I walk to St Peter’s but when I am feeling fit
I paddle the whole way!
Is it hard being one of only two girls in your class?
It’s all right but sometimes the boys are making jokes and playing. But I still enjoy it and
I’m happy! Sometimes they don’t want us to join in – they want to do it themselves. But
we just join in anyway!
What have you learned during your time at St Peter’s?
About 2-Stroke and 4-Stroke Engines. Mechanics. Fibreglass canoes.
What will you do when you finish your mechanics course?
Help the community and repair engines- with that little, I could pay for my fees at College.
But I need tools. They are very expensive. Maybe S$6000 (NZ$1200). I don’t think I can
find this money. I would like to continue my education but the problem is – money! I will try
to get to the College of Higher Education to train as a teacher.
What advice would you have for other girls who would like to learn mechanics?
I’d encourage them – it will help them in the future. You can get a job, even without much
education. I advise that girls must go to school so that they can be educated to help
them make decision for themselves.
Will you encourage other young people from your village to come here?
Yes. ‘Mi encouragim ota to kam lo skul.’ Last year I encouraged people from my youth
group to come. Now there are many youth from Nusabaruka – boys studying electrical,
mechanics, and girls studying life skills.