Women’s groups change settings
Women’s groups in the Northern Division are working together to beautify classroom settings that will stimulate better learning environment for students.
The Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei Cakaudrove (SVTC), Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei Bua and (SVT) Macuata members had a meeting in Savusavu recently. SVTC president Adi Salaseini Fong said the meeting discussed the classroom beautification project under the Australian Government-funded cyclone relief programme.
Targeting several schools in the division members from these provincial groups were tasked to provide mats (plaited from Kuta and Voivoi) for ceiling decorations of five schools in the programme. Ms Fong said this strengthened their partnership with counterparts from Bua and Macuata.
More meetings are planned for the future to benefit rural iTaukei women in Vanua Levu.
Ms Fong said Cakaudrove members were on a mission to ensure every women in the 15 districts of their province had resources and skills to excel.
They successfully secured the services of an Indigenous Australian from Torres Strait Island, Rosaline Tomsana to teach the process of incorporating environment items for jewellery making. “The Australian Government has been a beacon of great encouragement with other programmes such as the Australian Volunteers Impact Programme (AVIP).” Australian High Commission First Secretary of Economics, Susannah Hodson, visited the SVTC members during the AVIP handicraft training.
“Our organisation strives to instill and mould women to be family contributors and not just limit them to being domestic workers.”