Group maximises donation of furniture, kitchen utensils
About 20 women of Sawani in Naitasiri will maximise the use of their new conference room furniture and kitchen utensils.
They were given the timely donation during a hand over ceremony from the Permanent Secretary for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Josefa Koroivueta yesterday.
Waimanu Women’s Club member Kinisimere Visiraki, 71, said the furniture that was donated would be used to make a better equipped conference room.
“Among the many advantages, I will be able to host workshops where I can teach the younger generation about sewing,” Ms Visiraki said.
“Members of the young generation have been losing their touch in the craft of sewing and other embroideries.
“It is my duty to teach the younger ones these skills so that they can economize sewing.”
She has been conducting classes for her students every Thursdays. As the only breadwinner in her family, Ms Visiraki has found ways to market her products to a range of customers.
“When tourists come to our village, all of the women in the club enjoy sales of their products. We also receive orders in advance so we work on them beforehand,” she said.
Sewing since she was young, Ms Visiraki has created a niche for herself in the village.
“Most of my customers are neighbours around the village. I get a lot of orders to sew sulu-jaba and I sew cushion covers, skirts, dresses and sulus,” she said. Permanent Secretary, Dr Koroivueta, said this project was part of the ministry’s assistance to the women of Sawani.
“This group has seen the need for a conference facility in the area as most of the Tikina meetings could be hosted here,” he said. “Provincial meetings and even the school meeting, fundraising dinners and for other events the organisers struggle to find a suitable venue.
“And the women’s group can have a conference facility to hire and the group can also cater for the meetings which will generate income to assist with individual members and even their families.” The project cost more than $9000.