Fiji Sun

Group reaches out to Naviago widow

Fiji Locals, Help Locals pays follow-up visit with food items, clothes and other donations

- KATHRIN KRISHNA Edited by Rusiate Mataika Feedback: kathrin.krishna@fijisun.com.fj

Agroup known as ‘Fiji Locals, Help Locals’ paid a follow-up visit on Saturday to a Naviago Village family after the President Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote visited the family earlier this month. ‘Fiji Locals, Helps Locals’ is a

Facebook group which consists of members from all working background­s who are committed to helping those who are in need of aid. Alipate Sawau, the treasurer of the newly formed group, said they aimed at prioritisi­ng and helping needy individual­s in Fiji’s communitie­s. “The group is very new and we have an aim of providing help in whatever way we can to those who need help in our communitie­s,” Mr Sawau said. “We decided to visit Mereani and her family after we read the news article in the Fiji Sun earlier this month.” The 60-year-old grandmothe­r could not hold back her tears when the group visited her at her family house in Naviago, Lautoka last week.

“It is the love of God that draws this people to help needy individual­s like me,” Ms Maramanair­amo said. She said she was very thankful to the group for their visit. “I thank this group for taking out time, travelling all the way to my village just to pay me a visit,” she said.

“It is acts like this that can restore back the faith in humanity and this shows the true Fijian society which believes in helping others.” The family received food items, clothes and other donations from the group. Ms Maramanair­amo is currently staying with her two granddaugh­ters Tokasa Nakesa Marama, 12, and Mareta Dabea, 11, at Naviago Village in Lautoka.

 ?? Photo: Kathrin Krishna ?? Members of the Fiji Locals, Helps Locals during their visit to Naviago widow Mereani Maramanair­amo (back middle, against the wall), and her two granddaugh­ters.
Photo: Kathrin Krishna Members of the Fiji Locals, Helps Locals during their visit to Naviago widow Mereani Maramanair­amo (back middle, against the wall), and her two granddaugh­ters.

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