Men Weave Baskets for Income
Skills acquired while working on fishing boats have benefited men of Wainivokai Settlement in Lami whose jobs have been affected by COVID-19.
For years the community have heavily relied on the fishing industry for their livelihood.
Nearly all the men from the 20 households within the settlement had been working on fishing vessels.
Their only source of income was cut off when shipping services were brought to a complete halt because of the pandemic.
But now the men have switched to weaving baskets using fishing lines to sell both on the roadside and on Facebook.
Saula Tuwai, 26, said: “I have been working on fishing boats for seven years now. As soon as the lockdown happened, we were told to stay home.”
Everyday a group of men sit along the roadside at their settlement to weave baskets and display them for sale.
Income earned is distributed among the men and goes directly to providing food for their families.
“We just use the fishing lines that we already have at home and we sell according to the orders we get,” he said.
“The baskets sell from $5 to $30 depending on the size and we have received orders from the Western Division as well.”
Those wishing to purchase baskets to help the men can call on 2069108 and 7296365