Dr Mellita Jones, who is the Ballarat Deputy Head of Education Victoria at Australian Catholic University, has been working in the Solomon Islands for the past 10 years with learning exchange programs.

Dr Jones learnt Esther Rongukulia's story at a teacher's conference in 2008 and said it really resonated with her.

Esther, who is one of seven children, knew she wanted to become a teacher as a 14-year-old, but her family did not have the money to send her to university.

Her father organised an arranged marriage for Esther when she was only 16, to a man in his 60s, whom she had never met. 

When Esther refused, stating she wished to continue with her education, she was disowned from her family and her village.

"Gender is a real issue for accessing education in the Solomon Islands," Dr Jones said. "Esther has been through a huge effort in supporting herself, finding shelter, finding food and trying to get a tuition because she so badly wanted to be a teacher.

"I think her story is a really inspirational one of courage and perseverance. She has succeeded against all odds in a culture where girls don’t have a lot of power or rights," she said.

Esther was the first woman in her community to continue with her education. The boys could do it and so she wanted to as well.

"I looked to my community and there was no good leader for the young people. All of the girls in our community got married at 14 or 16 and were in difficult situations in their married lives. So I thought, 'we should have somebody who is educated a little bit to lead us.'"

Dr Jones, with others, helped Esther, who had not competed Year 11 or 12,  to achieve her dreams and study a Diploma in Education. She has been teaching for five years now and is currently the acting principal at her school in the very remote village of Bolale.

"We are currently sponsoring Esther who has been offered a place to upgrade her Diploma to a Bachelor's Degree in education," Dr Jones said.

Dr Jones recently founded the Esther Education Foundation to sponsor other girls and women in low socio economic countries to complete their secondary education and any bridging courses they might need towards Diplomas and subsequently Bachelor's Degrees.

"I started the education foundation in [Esther's] honour to try to support other women and girls, particularly in low income countries where their gender is impacting their ability to access education."

"My big goal is to expand [the foundation] as much as possible to do my little bit. I had the fortune and opportunity to receive an education so I want to provide a similar opportunity for other young women and girls to achieve their dreams."

Esther said she enjoys teaching because she learns concurrently.

"When teaching I expand," she said. "I listened to the Bible: “work hard and you will receive everything. Work hard and you will achieve your goals.

"Even though my parents are not supporting me, I follow that. I have to do [it myself]. I make my garden, sell things and make money to support myself. I followed that model even though my family found it difficult to make money to support every one of us. So I said 'okay, I am stepping out to find my own sponsor to lift me to another stage. That’s why I am here. It was my goal."

The foundation is currently sponsoring another 23-year-old who suffered traumatic sexual abuse from her teacher while at boarding school.

She eventually fell pregnant to him and was forced to cease her studies. She has three dependent children and is being sponsored to study a bridging course in early childhood education.

To support the foundation, visit https://esthereducationfoundation.org/