Ministry Organises Sewing Training For Vunika Women
‘This training has been organised to empower women who are unemployed and doing domestic duties to start their own small income generating project’ The youngest participant is 22 years old and the oldest is a 60-year-old grandmother.
In an effort to assist women, the Ministry of Youth and Sports organised a one-week training course on basic sewing skills at Vunika, Labasa.
The ministry’s youth administrator for Macuata Province, Shalendra Bishwa, said there were 42 women and all from the Vunika area.
“This training has been organised to empower women who are unemployed and doing domestic duties to start their own small income generating project,” Mr Bishwa said. “The youngest participant is a 22-year-old and oldest is a 60-yearold grandmother.
“Age is not an issue. What matters to us is we get to help them to gain some employment or start their own business so that they can save some money and support themselves and their families.”
One of the participants, Miliakere Marau, 55, said it was the first time for her to know how to cut and sew shirt and pants out from a piece of material.
“I feel so happy and such skills will surely help me to do something for my family,” Ms Marau said.
“I am originally from
Mali Island, but I’m staying in
Labasa looking after my grandchildren as they go to school.
“During my free time I can do sewing and earn some money.”
She is a mother of five and a grandmother to three children. Another participant, Soniya Devi, 22, said she was a Diploma graduate from the University of the South Pacific in Office Management and is currently pursuing a degree in Human Resource and Tourism. “Even though I am a graduate, I feel that such a training will be helpful for me in the long run and that is why I joined,” Ms Devi said. “There is no stop in education and I thank the ministry for having me.” The five-day training course will end tomorrow.
I feel so happy and such skills will surely help me to do something for my family. Miliakere Marau Participant