20 January 2022
For Immediate Release
Today, the Uto Ni Yalo Trust [UNYT] signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] with the ‘Fiji Arts Community Fundraiser for Colin Philp’, sparking the beginning of a 10-year partnership that will see at least 50 individuals put through the UNYT’s Level 1 Introduction to Traditional Sailing and Environmental Stewardship Programme. The Colin Philp Traditional Sailing and Environmental Stewardship Scholarship (TSESS) was established to honour the legacy of the late Mr Colin Philp who was, at the time of his passing in late December, an UNYT Trustee and a long-time Patron of the Arts. Speaking at the signing this afternoon, the co-chair of the Art community fundraiser, Ms Ellana Kalounisiga said that this partnership will ensure that Mr. Philp’s legacy continues through one of his biggest dreams–the establishment of a traditional sailing school. “We are committed to actively doing something every year or every second year to try to raise more funds and keep this alive and we are incredibly honoured to be working with the UNYT on this,” she said. UNYT Trustee Bill Lockwood said that the signing of the MOU marked a new beginning in the long history that the UNYT has had with the Fiji Art fraternity. He said that coming together and revitalising this relationship to honour someone who has contributed so much to traditional voyaging and to the Arts, will be reflected in what is taught to the recipients of this scholarship. “His passion was not only with sailing, voyaging or the passing of traditional knowledge but also focused on ocean stewardship, the advancement of youth in their own villages, and indeed in Art. This connection is something we will continue to foster.” In presenting the first allocation of funding, Mr Philp’s partner, Ms Lee-Anne Lee, thanked the UNYT and the Fiji Art community for establishing the scholarship and for the outpouring of love and support received since his untimely passing. “I don’t think he realised how many people’s lives he has touched. This scholarship will see his life’s work continue in the lives of the sailing program students.
The Colin Philp Traditional Sailing and Environmental Stewardship Scholarship will put fifty individuals through the UNYT Traditional Sailing Program over the next 10 years with a commitment to seek additional sponsorship from its members and corporate sponsors to help enable more persons to undertake the program.
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Media Contacts
Dylan Kava | Phone:+679 906 1989 | Email: dylan.kava@gmail.com
Matelita Buadromo | Phone: +679 992 7556 | Email matelitaratu@yahoo.com
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