$2500 Grants For North Youth Clubs

Five youth clubs in the Northern Division will be able to invest more in their incomegenerating projects, thanks to the Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation. The foundation handed out grants of $2500 to each of the five clubs at Grand Eastern Hotel in Labasa yesterday.

The presentation was done by Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation executive Ambalika Prakash. Four clubs were from Bua (Vuniuto Youth Club, Valawavere Youth Club, Kuinitoba Youth Club and Navuniwi Youth Club) and one from Macuata, Seaqaqa Young Women’s Club.

Ms Prakash said these clubs received grant under their programme called “Bula Youth Tok”. “Under this programme we have given grants to 50 youth clubs around the country and out the total 26 clubs were from Northern Division,” Ms Prakash said.

“As from 2009 to this year we have supported 250 youth clubs with their projects.

“These five clubs were referred to us by Ministry of Youth and Sports after their needs-based assessment. “We support such kind of youth clubs to assist them in sustainable development goals.

“Our expectation from them is to open a social media page suing their club name and upload all progressive projects and photos so that when we do remote monitoring from our office so that we can connect them to big corporate organisations that can help them more. “We have corporate organisations that approach us to give at least ten names of club whom they wish to support.

“So, if clubs have their page on social media it will easy for us to advise corporates to liaise with them directly.”

Ministry of Youth and Sports senior co-ordinator North Mere Ratukonadi said from the grant given Vuniuto Youth Club invest in their women project, Valawavere Youth Club in vegetable farming, Kuinitoba Youth Club in canteen project, Navuniwi Youth Club in fishing and Seaqaqa Young Women’s Club in honey production.

“Each club has more than ten members and some club like Navuniwi has 22 members who have been carrying out five different projects to support their families, members and Nasau Village and surrounding settlements,” Ms Ratukonadi said.

“We are trying our best to help out registered clubs under our ministry and give added value so that they can be sustainable.” Navuniwi Youth Club president Salasa Baleitavewa thanked the foundation and Ministry of Youth and Sports for the assistance.

“This is like Christmas gift for our members,” Mr Baleitavewa said. Edited by Epineri Vula