Mum, 34, Broadens Cooking Knowledge at Vocational, Technical Training
Vasenai Mara, 34, is more than grateful to be a participant at the two weeks Sustainable Livelihood Programme [SLP] underway at the Kalabu Village community hall. Participants go through basic vocational and technical training and she is learning the ropes of basic cookery.
“I am learning a lot. Even though we know how to cook, these basic cookery courses have broadened and exposes our mind and knowledge to the many possibilities of how to cook by using resources available,” Ms Mara said.
The programme to train school leavers in rural and maritime communities is a Government-funded
project run by the Fiji National University [FNU].
“I am thankful to FNU trainers for coming here to conduct these courses,” she said.
A mother of three children, Ms Mara, said she would be able to start a small catering business through the MicroCredit Finance Loan Scheme.
“Some of us here have the experience but do not have a certificate to credit our work,” she said. “My advice to those in training is that when an opportunity like this comes by, you must grab it.”
“It will not only help today, but for their future because they will be able to earn money from the skills they have learned.”
Project co-ordinator Setareki Valenitabua said the target was for school leavers to be self sufficient.
Since its inception in 2012, the programme has produced about 24,000 graduates.
“About 434 participants from Kalabu and 351 from Wailoku are undergoing this two-week training programme,” Mr Valenitabua said.
“Most of the courses listed are initiated by Government and we select whichever is applicable to teach in these rural and maritime areas.”
Training is open to anyone willing to attend.
Courses include food and beverage, front office, basic cookery and pastry, basic solar maintenance, electrical, joinery, plumbing work, small engine repair, child and elderly care, wooden house construction,
“We also teach bread baking skills and the construction of an oven with firewood as a source of fuel, floral culture, tailoring and fibreglass boat repair,” Mr Valenitabua said.
Following graduation, the FNU team will then do an Impact Assessment Survey [IAS] after six months for all the students who had gone through training. “From there, we assess our students if they have reached the target we hope for them to achieve,” he said.
Mr Valenitabua said according to the last assessment about 70 per cent were able to meet the specific target areas.
The current crop of students will graduate this Friday with a Certificate of Participation.