Satavu Seeks Fresh Opportunities at 66
Never stop learning and humble yourself. Take on opportunities that come your way.
Witnessing first hand how women become entrepreneurs has challenged Iowana Satavu, 66, to set up her business.
She had been watching movies of women breaking glass ceilings on TV after graduating from the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) – an initiative of the United States of America Embassy.
Ms Satavu applied for a spot in the programme early last year. She was one of the lucky 150 women picked from a pool of 374 applications.
“Never stop learning and humble yourself. Take on opportunities that come your way,” she said.
AWE is a mentoring programme for women to establish and scale-up their business.
The Women Entrepreneurs Business Council and the Makoi Women’s Vocational Centre facilitate this programme through a comprehensive, seven-month long business skills development course and networking opportunities.
138 women graduated from the programme yesterday.
“I had the support of my husband throughout my studies and that was important,” she said.
“At the moment as we speak, he is at the hospital and is very sick.”
Ms Satavu, now a retiree, worked in the hotel industry and lived in the Western Division.
She has four children.
“They have their own lives to live,” she said. “Being at home became boring for me.” Apart from her hotel and academic qualifications which were only up to certificate level, the AWE certificate was another level up. “I wanted to first know how to sew. I came in expecting only knowing to sew but taking up this opportunity really opened my eyes,” she said.
“Being in this programme has helped us start a business. I look forward to starting a business.
“I have the support of my family and I believe that will take me forward.” US Ambassador to Fiji, Marie Damour, said the embassy was proud to support a prosperous Fiji.
“The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs is one way we do this,” she said.
“By equipping women with the skills, knowledge, and networks necessary to start and expand their businesses, they can help direct Fiji’s economic growth.”
Minister for Women, Lynda Tabuya, was chief guest at the event and said over 49 per cent of Fiji’s population were women. “Providing equal training opportunities can lead to improved human development outcomes for our women,” she said.
“Women entrepreneurs can create an opportunity for their families to break the cyclone of poverty.”