Ranisha

What did you eat for breakfast? 

Ferrero Rocher.

What was the last song you listened to? 

Buddha-samana, it’s a hindi song, it’s kinda bubbly.

What was the last thing you googled?

Pulse energy, because we’re planning to change our energy company. 

So tell us your story so far…

I was born in Fiji…we came to NZ five years ago and I started off from scratch not knowing anything. On my first day of high school in NZ I was there at 7.30am sharp..because in Fiji you have to be in school by 7.30am! In year 10 I got introduced to Shakti and I realised I had a passion for women’s rights. I learned what a feminist is and realised I was one. I was also bullied for 8 months. One of my friends went online and wrote all this stuff. My sister found out and told me and I got her expelled. I didn’t deserve that kind of treatment, and I realised I didn’t need to stay down and do nothing – I can speak up for myself. In year 11 I got the opportunity through Shakti to organise a march in the city about anti bullying and domestic violence, and now this year I’m head girl at my school.

Wow, is it hard to balance all your activism and school and responsibility?

I’ve assigned a day to each group I belong to. Monday is Shakti, Tuesday is Youthtown stuff, Wednesday is head girl duties, Thursday is KEY club and Friday is PSP – which clashes with Shine which I’m also involved in…

Do you think the government is listening to the issues you’re campaigning for?

Yes! But it took so much effort! The march last year was about forced marriage and rape culture in NZ among migrant communities. It’s so unaddressed because people think it doesn’t happen. But even within my school community we had two cases of it…And after the march the Government did make an amendment in the law. 

So what’s one issue that you stay awake thinking about?

Family violence. I’ve had girls come up and show me their bruises or where they have tried self harm. I was in a toilet at school one time with a girl who was trying to self harm. I came in and she was curled up and I could see the razor, she told me to leave, that she was done with life. Anyway we ended up with the school counselor and they got outside organisations involved. I think she’s doing really well now, but if I hadn’t needed to pee at that time then what would have happened?

You’re dealing with things grown adults struggle with, do you ever feel exhausted…?

Yeah I do. I have a coping mechanism though, it’s about looking at the bigger picture. If I’m exhausted and I stop, what will happen then? I remember that girl in the toilet…if I had backed off then what would have happened? 

Do you feel like you’re a normal 18 year old? 

I do feel different. I feel more mature. I don’t fit in an 18 year old box. If you put me with 40 year olds I’d have a normal conversation.

You’re clearly a really high achiever, is it hard work to keep it up?

No. I think it depends on your limits. Some people have small limits and can only do so much. Some people have a high limit and do extra. I think I have no limit. I can keep going and going and going and not stop.

One word to sum up how you feel about your future 

Unpredictable!