The Heart Behind Vosa Mai

What was left behind was more than words - Vosa Mai was born to bring it back

I hail from Vaturua, Nakelo, Tailevu, with maternal links to Viseisei, Vuda. I was born in Fiji, but at just eight months old my family moved to Australia in search of better opportunities. Like so many families who leave the islands, something had to be left behind in order to adapt to this new environment. At the time, it wasn’t clear. But as the years passed, I realised what was left behind was our language and culture.

Growing up, I often heard Fijian spoken in our home and in the community around us. That exposure helped me to understand the words, the tone, and the way our people speak with warmth and respect. But when it came to speaking myself, I struggled. Like many of us growing up in this new world, I felt the pressure to fit in. To feel like I belonged, I had to learn and speak English. Over time, because I didn’t practice Fijian as much, I slowly lost the confidence to use it.

When my family moved to Western Australia in 2008, the distance from the Fijian community widened that gap even more. With fewer people to speak with and fewer cultural touchpoints around me, my confidence in using the language slipped further away.

As the years went by, the ache of what was missing grew stronger. I longed to reconnect, to speak the language of my people with confidence, to embrace what I had once felt I needed to set aside. I searched high and low for ways to learn, for resources, for a space to grow in Fijian language and culture. But there was nothing.

And so, the heartbeat of Vosa Mai was born

Vosa Mai is not just an online class, but a movement — a safe space for us to return to our roots, to learn, to practice, and to grow in confidence together. It is a community that says: it’s never too late to reclaim what was left behind.

When you speak the language, you don’t just use words — you step into the spirit of the culture. It shapes the way you think, the way you carry yourself, and the way you connect with others. Language doesn’t just communicate who you are — it helps you become who you are meant to be.

That is why the mission of Vosa Mai is simple yet powerful:

• To preserve and strengthen the Fijian language.
• To create an open, welcoming space where anyone can learn.
• To restore pride and confidence in our identity — not just for us, but for our children and the generations to come.

This is not only about words and grammar. It’s about reclaiming what was lost, honouring where we come from, and passing that on proudly.

Together, we will not just learn the language — we will Speak the Heart of Fiji

Vinaka Vakalevu

Talei Serukai

Founder - Vosa Mai