Tikoicina pays for studies with online business
During the COVID-19 lockdown, it made me realise that agriculture was the ONLy fiELD tO turN tO during the pandemic.
Nanise Tikoicina, 32, believes it’s never too late to try new things. Ms Tikoicina is a first year student doing Bachelor of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Fiji.
She owns an online business The Crochet Studio, which she started during the second wave of the COVID- 19 pandemic.
The Vitogo, Lautoka native is a full time student and does part time on her online business to finance her studies.
As a volunteer with Ola Fou Fiji she empowers youth and the vulnerable in local communities.
“After finishing my Form Seven, I attended Fiji National University to pursue my diploma in Architectural Technology,” she said.
“After becoming an architectural technician, things were going great until the lockdown started. My working hours were affected, working only one day in a week.”
Gong to work became more costly than being at home so eventually she left her architectural technician work.
COVID-19 lockdown
Nanise Tikoicina The Crochet Studio owner
“During the COVID-19 lockdown, it made me realise that agriculture was the only field to turn to during the pandemic,” Ms Tikoicina said.
She decided to switch from architecture to agriculture and to finance her studies through her part time business.
“I was lucky enough to be staying with my aunt who was good at making crochet doormats. She taught me how to crochet.
“But when the lockdown was over, there weren’t enough supplies available in shops for the type of materials I needed so I thought of trying something new and that’s when I made a beanie for myself, and eventually I was able to continue this as a business.”
Ms Tikoicina now makes homemade soap and infused oil together with her crochet items which include earrings, beanie, baby and adult ear warmers and headbands.
Starting and running a business takes a lot of patience and Ms Tikoicina has decided to keep her online business after graduation.
Pricing for her online business items ranges from $5 to $15.
She can be contacted on her Facebook page The Crochet Studio.
Ms Tikoicina encourages everyone to believe in themselves.