REACH Makes it Easy for Rural Fiji
Access to services has always been difficult for those living in the interior of Viti
Levu.
But thanks to the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare’s coordinated REACH programme, these families have a reason to smile, with a wide range of services brought to their doorstep.
The programme is supported by the United Nations Development
Fund (UNDP) and the Japanese government.
Kasanita and Seru, a young couple from Togobula Village in Nadroga wishes that their children grow up to be healthy, are kind to others, study hard and engage in positive lifestyle choices.
They also wished that a birth, death and marriage (BDM) was closer to home.
The parents, who are busy working hard for their children and families, were grateful when they were able to complete those procedures
efficiently at a nearby community hall at Batiri village, Malomalo.
“I want my children to become well-educated and employed for a government job to serve our fellow Fijians, just like this REACH team is helping us in our communities,” Ms Kasanita Liku said.
They were also able to access other services for their family such as applying for a free water tank, receiving medical check-ups and more, without the hustle of travelling to and from town.
The REACH programme, which
has more than 15 service providers gathered as a team, provides legal, social, health services and related awareness raising on citizens’ entitlements to more than 10 communities in Nadroga Province of Fiji over two-weeks in November 2022.
The couple were among the members of communities who benefited from the programme.
Empower Pacific, one of the civil society organisations (CSOs) that took part in the REACH programme, while delivering their services as part of the programme,
Empower Pacific and the Department of Social Welfare received an urgent request to attend to a 12-year-old girl.
The child was referred to the department beacuse she was refusing to listen to her parents and stopped going to school.
“The department, working with counsellors, held talks with the girl’s parents to identify workable solutions prioritising the best interest of the child,” said Sebasitiano Nauluiaki, a social welfare officer who attended the case.