Jovial day for Naloto
THE jovial ambience complemented with fine weather allowed the people of Naloto Village in Verata, Tailevu to gather to raise funds for their development projects.
The descendants of Rokotakala from around the country and abroad turned up in numbers at the Nailagotabua Primary School ground raising more than $145,000 during the Naloto Day event last week.
The event not only allowed the people of Naloto to raise funds, but to also simply meet up after the pandemic.
The three-day event was filled with good-humour and high spirits as the people of Naloto living in Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, UK and France enjoyed each other’s company over good food and good entertainment.
Exceeding their target of $100,000, the people of Naloto understood the importance of supporting such an initiative as it allows positive growth for themselves and their future generation.
Rokotakala Development Committee member Solomone Seru said the committee’s target was to raise $100,000 this year and that 30 per cent from the target would be used for scholarships, 30 per cent for investments and 40 per cent for village development.
Mr Seru said they were looking at the sea level rise and how houses closest to the coastline were usually affected during high tide and storm surge.
“Constructing an 800 metres sea wall is a priority,” he said.
“We started this project this year at a cost of more than $200,000 from our fundraising from the previous years and early this year.”
He said other projects that the committee was looking into was sanitation and proper water supply.
“For us planning and constructing a sewer line structure is also a priority alongside building a new reservoir to cater for all households in the village and supply clean water to those living in their farms.”
He said being able to bring together a huge number of people to raise funds was a big achievement for the committee.
“Naloto has never hosted a huge number of people as experienced last weekend.”
The future generations of Naloto are to benefit the most from the development projects.
“The future generations will benefit from our investments by improving their water supply and sanitation, education, utilities and the infrastructure of the village school, church and individual households,” he said.
“It was history in the making and a game changer for the descendants of Rokotakala.”
The atmosphere for the three-day perfectly suited the occasion, as the people of Naloto were blessed with beautiful weather accompanied by homely entertainment.
“We had the National Youth Band on Friday and Georgina Ledua with her band on Saturday. vuvale
Nakoroidete perform at the Naloto celebrations.
“On Saturday all families and friends were part of our closing day event which included our women and our guests from America.
“It was a jovial atmosphere seeing families from all over the world meeting after COVID-19 and reminiscing on old memories and stories. Elders also got the chance to inform the new generation of their identity associated with the land and their cultural obligations that is to be enhanced at the tokatoka, mataqali and vanua level.”
On Friday the event was opened by those living in Australia, New Zealand, UK and France and they raised $11,314.
On the second day of the event, the women of Naloto, who were guests of the event, raised $57,796.45 and were accompanied by those in the US who raised $75,148. There were also other donors who contributed to the soli.
“We would like to thank all our men and our youths for helping to organise the two day soli and the church service on Sunday. We thank those that contributed and also to Vodafone for their tents that were used during the day.”
To bring the festivity to a close, a thanksgiving church service was held at the school ground.
Women present mats as gifts at the Naloto Day. Pictures by JONACANI LALAKOBAU
Pictures by JONACANI LALAKOBAU
Pictures by JONACANI LALAKOBAU
pSolomone Seru, left, and Kameli Sokoilagi. Pictures by JONACANI LALAKOBAU tanoa of kava. Pictures by JONACANI LALAKOBAU