The 26-year-old Inoke Uganidavui is using his story to encourage young people to make better choices, after overcoming a troubled past marked by drugs, crime, and imprisonment.
Uganidavui says his life took a difficult turn when his parents separated at the age of 4 and he raised by his grandparents and aunt, who did all they could to give him a good life.
He says he still found himself drawn into the wrong crowd at a young age.
The 26-year-old says he was exposed to drugs and illegal activities early on and between the ages of 11 and 15, he made frequent appearances in court and at 17 he ended up in prison.
While speaking at the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking event, Uganidavui shared that his father was in prison during his childhood, and the absence of a father figure left a significant gap in his life.
The 26-year-old says he dropped out of school and the streets became his classroom.
He adds that he tried many times to quit drugs, but he couldn’t, as he was relying only on his own strength.
Uganidavui also shared that he nearly lost his life multiple times, through accidents, violence, and drug overdoses but by the grace of God, he is still alive today.
He is now urging young people to be careful about who they follow, warning that the wrong crowd can destroy their lives.
