From environmental diploma to a tailor, how the tides turned for Devi
Growing up listening to weather updates during cyclones on the only battery operated radio available at her Labasa home, Riteshna Devi always wanted to became a weather forecaster.
The 30-year-old from Korowiri Tovata, Labasa won a Multi-ethnic scholarship to pursue her studies in Environmental Science and graduated with a Higher Education Diploma in Environmental Science from Fiji National University in 2015.
“I completed my Diploma studies two years after my marriage with the hope to get my desired employment,” she said.
“I also applied at Ministry of Education but was unsuccessful.”
Ms Devi’s husband, Salvin Chand, a taxi driver, always supported and encouraged her to keep trying and explore other available employment opportunities while she waited for response from Ministry of Education.
“After waiting for almost an year I started working as a sales girl in a clothing boutique at MHCC to support my husband with rent,” Ms Devi said.
Years went by without presenting Ms Devi with her desired opportunities, but she was not going to stop before such hurdles.
Turning a new leaf
“I enrolled again at the Fiji National University in 2018 for certificate studies in fashion design because I wanted to polish my sewing and pattern-making skills and start my own sewing business in 2019”, added Devi.
What started as $50 to $60 income in a week, Ms Devi now earns ten times more in a week.
“My bula and Island wear sewing brought quick interest from customers and I started earning enough to pay my bills, rent and also managed to do my savings”, said Devi.
Ms Devi now sells from Valelevu grounds three days a week and completes her sewing orders in the weekend from home.
“I did not stop when one door closed on me. My husband stood by me and motivated me. Things were difficult during the early stages of COVID, but it is getting back on track again”, she said.
Ms Devi is encouraging women not to lose hope by failures or rejection but to have the courage to stand up to life’s challenges specially during this difficult times.