By XAVIER SMERDON
A TARNEIT student has been awarded the opportunity of a lifetime, being sent to the other side of the world to study for two years.
Isaac Diliga was born in Uganda to Sudanese parents before his family moved to Australia when he was 10-years-old.
The 18-year-old was selected by United World Colleges, an international group that aims to unite students so that they can act as “champions of peace”, to study in Canada on a full scholarship.
With five brothers and sisters Isaac is the oldest in the family and takes his responsibilities seriously, talking with wisdom well beyond his years.
He reflected on his life in Uganda as a time of uncertainty.
“Uganda has quite a lot of freedom but with that freedom comes a lot of dangers,” Isaac said.
“It is easy to fall in with the wrong crowd.”
His parents work hard to support him and his siblings, something he is well aware of.
“One of my visions and goals is to be a role model for the Sudanese community and to be a figure that people can look up to and say ‘he did a great job’,” he said.
“I want to make sure my parents made a good investment in me.”
Isaac said he was surprised to hear that he would be going to Canada.
“I was quite joyful. I just took it as an opportunity for a big step for me,” he said.
“It will help me stay on the right path for who I am and where I’m heading.”
Isaac’s parents cannot afford his flight tickets to Canada so he is currently looking for employment opportunities to raise the funds himself.
For more information on United World Colleges visit www.uwc.org.au
