Upskill Women With Disabilities: Minister
There is a need to include women with disabilities in skills trainings says Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation. Mereseini Vuniwaqa said they too were able to take part in this skills training depending on their physical abilities.
While opening the Xinfan Palm Weaving skills training at Nabudrau Village in Tailevu on Thursday, Mrs Vuniwaqa emphasised how grateful she was to the Chinese Government for creating the opportunity.
The training was conducted by an expert from China, Liu Junying. “This is a historic moment for us as a ministry as we venture into a new type of skills training,” Mrs Vuiiwaqa said.
“This has only become a reality due to the close friendship that our ministry shares with the Chinese Cultural Centre.
“This is a real show of the close friendship that our two Governments share. I can only express our heartfelt thanks to the People’s Republic of China through the Chinese Cultural Centre in Fiji for this huge commitment to share your ancient art of palm leaves weaving right here.
“For us locally, weaving of the coconut palm leaves date way back to our ancestors when the leaves were used as walls for our homes, during traditional ceremonies as baskets to carry food and in particular for women as a back-carry for gathering food from the plantations and as waist baskets for fishing. “Nowadays in some of our homes you find fans made from palm leaves and in the tourist industry the weaving of the leaves for hats. “These skills I know will be given new light from the learning that will take place here in the next few days.”
She added that the new skills to be learned would enhance local knowledge by diversifying the products that women can make from palm leaves, which would in turn boost income generating efforts by our local women.
About 30 women participated in the training.
Edited by Percy Kean
This is a real show of the close friendship that our two Governments share. I can only express our heartfelt thanks to the People’s Republic of China through the Chinese Cultural Centre in Fiji for this huge commitment to share your ancient art of palm leaves weaving right here Mereseini Vuniwaqa Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation