Donation bolsters Navosa shop plan
Ashop run by youths in the interior of Nadroga received a timely boost following a cash injection of $2500 from Vodafone ATH Foundation last week. The donation means the shop can now offer a wider range of products for villagers to buy and, avoid travelling as far as Sigatoka Town. Waikanikia Youth Club, in Nawairabe Village, in Nasikawa, Navosa, can now proceed with expanding the shop using local building material to accommodate the new range of products to be sold. Nawairabe Village is a four-hour drive from Sigatoka Town. Its population is slightly over 300 of which 42 people are catogorised as youth who are championing the cause. Youth group leader Marika Katonivere said: “Every small funding we receive, we ensure that we put these to good use.
“But this is like a big (donation) for us.”
“The funds will be used to buy food, school stationery and other essentials to be sold from the canteen.
“The new well-stocked shop will ensure that people don’t spend too much money on transportation, running back and forth into town. Our village is situated in the remote area of Navosa. Therefore, the support we got will help us cater for food and school essentials which our villagers need.”.
“We hardly get such support hence plans are to sustain the canteen project and to continuously cater for our people.”
The youth club has started working on their shop project by frequently meeting to discuss the plan. “We also share our plans and updates loloma at the village and tikina council meetings which is then shared at provincial council level. The governance reporting also makes us accountable and responsible,” Mr Katonivere said.
Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation has been providing support to communitybased youth clubs around the country since 2011 with an investment of over $19 million towards community projects. Foundation executive Ambalika Prakash said: “We are mindful that every dollar invested yields a higher rate of return for communities. Our challenge to youth and women’s club is to sustain and grow the seed money you receive from the foundation.”
According to Roko Tui Nadroga/ Navosa Viliame Burenivalu, the youth clubs in the province are under a comprehensive structure whereby the village, tikina, provincial and youth councils and, the Ministry of Youth oversee the sustainability of the project. Nadroga/ Navosa Provincial Council Youth Co-ordinator Marika Nagata said: “We continue to support these youth groups. If they identify training needs, we help them and, also offer counselling.
“We are also using the religious/faith-based organisations in the vicinity to do the same.”
There is no shortage of advisory services in the province. “Where we don’t have the expertise we use teams like Project Everest to help with farming training and practical,” said Project Officer Western Charity Alliance and Nadroga District Council of Social Services (DCOSS), Selita Donu.
“As for financial literacy we are engaging the Fiji Council of Social Service (FCOSS) Microfinance in Sigatoka.”