Aastha Mehta

ESSAY SUBMISSION

Theme: Balance the Scales: Empowering Fijian Women and Girls through Education 

I’m Aastha Mehta, a Fijian tertiary student studying Software Engineering at the University of the South Pacific. Growing up in Suva, I’ve been involved in both my academics and community work. These experiences showed me the strength of our culture, the importance of community, and the quiet inequalities that persist. Fiji’s often celebrated for its harmony and resilience, but I've learned that when it comes to gender equality, the scales aren't quite balanced.

 

In the heart of the Pacific, balance isn't just a concept; you see it in the harmony of the Vanua, the ocean's rhythm, and the give-and-take within our communities. Yet, through my education and community work, I've seen women and girls still encounter systemic obstacles, ones not always obvious but deeply rooted in tradition, limited access, and a lack of awareness. For Fiji to truly progress, education must become more than a pathway to employment; it must become a tool for justice. I'm convinced transformative education truly 'balances the scales.' As a student deeply involved in leadership, research, and advocacy, I've served as a Student Representative for CS/IS Programme Advisory Committees, a PASS Leader, and a committee member for the Women in STEM Society. Education alone isn't enough, though; we also need to empower, inform, and ease access.

 

However, challenges remain. Despite progress in education and policy, inequality in Fiji often exists subtly, woven into everyday life. My own schooling, first at MGM Primary and High School and later at university, showed me that while girls attend classes, their experiences aren't always equal.

 

Many young women, especially in rural and maritime communities, carry what I now understand as a "double burden": beyond their academic responsibilities, they manage household duties, provide care, and uphold traditional roles. I've personally seen how these demands, even among their peers, can limit their study time, reduce participation, and erode their confidence.

 

Beyond that, there's a “culture of silence.” Through my volunteer work with organizations such as the India Fiji Friendship Forum, which involved community outreach, including visits to orphanages and elderly homes, I noticed how deeply social norms discourage questioning authority. Often, women are taught to endure instead of challenging, to accept rather than ask questions. This cultural conditioning often keeps people from recognizing when their rights are being violated.

 

The biggest hurdle might be what I've come to call the "Justice Gap." As someone who studies technology and systems, I see this as a disconnect between availability and accessibility. Laws exist to protect individuals, but many people, especially those outside urban centres, don't know how to access them. Growing up, even I saw the legal system as distant and complex, something meant for professionals, not everyday citizens.

 

In Software Engineering, especially working with AI and data-driven systems, I've seen that systems function best when they're built to include everyone. I believe the same principle applies to education. Discrimination isn't something we're born with; it's learned. And if it's learned, then it can certainly be unlearned. Through my involvement in the Women in STEM Society and participation as a panelist in events such as the Pacific Girls in ICT Day and the Vodafone ATH Conference, I have actively advocated for greater inclusion of women in technology and leadership.

 

These experiences have shown me how powerful representation can be. When young girls see women speaking, leading, and innovating, it reshapes their perception of what is possible. Fiji's education system needs a gender-responsive teaching approach to truly address discrimination. This means encouraging girls in STEM fields and directly challenging classroom stereotypes. Having worked on complex technical projects, like developing an AI-based medical diagnostic model and enterprise-level software systems, I know how vital equal opportunity is for developing future innovators.

 

Furthermore, I think we need to bring unconscious bias training into every academic discipline. As a student representative on advisory and accreditation committees, I've seen firsthand how decisions get made and how different perspectives truly shape outcomes. Getting future leaders to spot their own biases early on can help us tackle systemic inequality right from the start. Education should also focus on empowerment. Programmes like the GirlBoss Edge: Sustainability Programme, which I completed, equipped me with skills in leadership, communication, and professional development.

 

These aren't just career skills; they're tools for independence. When women gain confidence, financial literacy, and strong decision-making abilities, they can challenge inequality everywhere. I've realized that limited awareness often blocks people from getting the justice they need. Knowledge is powerful, but only when it's truly accessible.

 

My time as a Research Assistant for Samsung’s “Solve for Tomorrow” initiative, coordinating sustainability programs across schools, showed me firsthand how effective education becomes when it's practical, engaging, and community oriented. It cemented my belief: legal knowledge needs to be shared in the same way; easy to grasp, relevant, and something people can act on. Fiji needs a "Legal Literacy Revolution." Laws covering domestic violence, workplace rights, and equality should be simpler and part of everyday learning. These aren't just for textbooks or courtrooms; even so, they belong in classrooms, communities, and conversations.

 

The Talanoa method offers a culturally relevant approach. It's an inclusive, participatory way to share knowledge. I've seen firsthand, working with diverse groups and community initiatives, how Talanoa fosters openness and trust. Applying this method to discuss legal rights can help connect traditional ways with modern justice systems. When individuals grasp ideas like consent, equal pay, and legal protection, they're better able to advocate for themselves. Awareness transforms passive acceptance into active empowerment.

 

As a software engineering student, I've built systems for various uses, including university enrollment and enterprise recruitment. This experience makes me see access to justice as both a social and technical challenge. It's about connecting knowledge with accessibility. A practical idea involves creating "Justice Navigators." If we train teachers, community leaders, and even students in basic legal procedures, we could build a decentralized support system. These trained individuals could then help others file reports, find legal aid, and understand complex processes. Technology also plays an important role. Through academic projects, like building mobile and web-based systems for accessibility, I've seen firsthand how digital platforms can streamline complex tasks.

 

In a country like Fiji, where people live far apart, digital literacy is especially valuable. Teaching women to use online tools for things like government services or legal help can genuinely break down barriers. My Erasmus+ research internship at Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie