Fibre Fale is a purpose-led organisation established to create pathways into technology for Pacific people. Co-founded in 2022 by award-winning tech leaders Julia Pahina and Namulau'ulu Nu’uali’i Eteroa Lafaele to bridge the digital divide and grow representation of Pasefika in tech, this organisation is making great strides towards shifting the statistic that shows Pacific people account for only 4.4% of the tech sector in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The goal is to grow the next wave of transformative industry leaders and Fibre Fale enables this in various ways. There’s the Digital Academy, an online education platform created to offer accessible learning opportunities for the community to grow, gain knowledge, and develop the skills needed to build tech careers in the new era of work, which complements Fibre Fono’s in-person events, designed to bring together Pacific people in tech to connect, foster community, and create collective impact.
Grant Criteria
The Fund wishes to help where death, sickness, family break up or economic hardship cause difficulty for young people and their caregivers to meet the costs of their education. Applications must be related to a young person’s education, although this term can be broadly interpreted. The Fund will not cover general tuition fees, unless there are unusual circumstances.
Types of Grants Made
Depending upon local criteria, grants may cover:
- School uniforms and clothing and footwear.
- Special tuition or course fees.
- Text books and stationery.
- Special grants especially for glasses or to help students with special needs.
Please see Mr Jack (Head of Careers and Transition) for more details and you can also click on the links below:
J R McKenzie Trust, Fibre Fale – Moving the Dial for Pasefika in Tech