Li'i Kesi
Samoan
Early childhood teacher
“I love absolutely everything about my job,” says Li’i enthusiastically. “It’s fulfilling to know you can work with these children from challenging backgrounds and move them from being unsure of who they are to getting out and socialising and showing independency after being some time at the centre.”
Li’i is an inspirational example of how ability and drive will win through in the end. At age 16 and having been brought up in Samoa by her grandparents, Li’i joined her parents in New Zealand to go to school. However she never made it there as the need for “food on the table” prevailed over a daughter’s education at the time.
“I was a factory worker for several years before moving on,” says Li’i. “Although waking up and doing the same thing day after day became incredibly boring, the experience did give me an understanding of English as I’d spoken Samoan all my life.”
Li’i developed a love for computers and took some courses which led to data entry work part time in the early hours of the morning. It was her daughter’s arrival and her separation after 14 years of marriage that led to her early childhood teaching career. “I looked for a job which would allow me to earn money and care for my daughter at the same time and that naturally led towards work in the early childhood centre where my daughter was, Alisi Atinae Aoga Amata.”
What started out as a need, soon turned into a passion for Li’i as she came to love working with children. The supervisor at her centre recognised her ability and recommended she study towards an early childhood qualification which she did, completing a 2-year PIECCA Diploma. “I managed with the incredible support of the teachers at the centre, support in practical ways such as minding my daughter before and after school.”
By the time Li’i had finished her PIECCA qualification she was told there was a new system in place and she would need to do further study towards a Diploma in Teaching (ECE) in order to be an early childhood teacher. This she did part time through Manukau Institute of Technology while continuing to work. The TeachNZ scholarship she was awarded was a great financial support. “The Anglican Trust for Women and Children were also extremely supportive while I was studying.” Li’i’s hard work and drive was rewarded in her last year at Manukau when she was presented with the Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics NZ Student Award for Excellence 2003.
“Becoming fully qualified has opened my eyes to new research, new theories, new methods,” maintains Li’i. “I now have a great knowledge and understanding of new situations that may develop during the course of the day.”
Li’i is currently the supervisor at the St Mary’s Preschool which is run by the Anglican Trust for Women and Children. At first she worked as an assistant, and then was appointed assistant supervisor. The morning sessions are devoted to the care and education of children from challenging backgrounds and the afternoon sessions are open to the community.
“I love absolutely everything about my job,” says Li’i enthusiastically. “It’s fulfilling to know you can work with these children from challenging backgrounds and move them from being unsure of who they are to getting out and socialising and showing independency after being some time at the centre.” For the afternoon sessions, Li’i and her staff are able to take more of an educational approach with the children compared with the morning sessions where the focus is more on forming trusting relationships and having the confidence to express themselves without fear.
Li’i also enjoys overseeing professional development amongst her staff. “All the staff here are qualified and it’s wonderful. We work alongside each other when planning programmes and have the same drive to get things done. As this job is about setting children up for life, it is important that we are professionals and seen as that in the community.”