Economic growth drivers
ROSALIA Sui exudes a joy that belies the journey she had, wrought with challenges of any rural-raised woman trying to make it in the big city. From Nukubalavu Village in Nasavusavu (Vanua Levu), Rosalia is 57 years old and her infectious smile and positive disposition screams of a youthful attitude to life, giving up was not a choice for this grandmother of six.
Once deciding that returning to her hometown would mean better chances at improving life for her family, there was no turning back. Rosalia attributes her success albeit having to start all over again to the social capital that complemented the strong guiding hands of her mother.
Rosalia saw her entrepreneurial dreams grow from an inconspicuous handicraft table at the Savusavu market to owning Rosa’s Creations and Designs today. Rosalia acknowledges her faith, her mum Vitalina Divura (now 78 years old and who singlehandedly raised her) and husband, Lasarusa Arei Toga as mainstays in her incredible journey.
After completing secondary school education, Rosalia moved and lived in Suva between 1984 and 2006, she had three children then but by 2006, the village beckoned “because I felt it had more options in terms of income source to support the family”. She has been the breadwinner of the family since.
“I used to watch my mother make handicrafts – grass skirts, salusalu (matching garland), seashell necklaces and bracelets — and sell them to tourists in Savusavu a long time ago. That’s what I started doing at the Savusavu market when I went back, I have the gift of making art and craft from my mother, she didn’t need to teach me — I just used that,” Rosalia said.
“I am the kind of person who cannot live dependent on someone else but the support from my mum and husband, raising our children, was invaluable; I was able to build a house because of her people so I am always grateful for their acceptance of my family and I.”
Rosalia has been part of the Fiji National Women's Expo since its inception in 2014. This year, she is one of the 176 women certified with the Fijian-Made brand (Handicraft Category) which comes with a $1000 grant to expand her business. She was also one of the 20 artisans who benefited from the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Fiji Rural Women Fashion Show training.
Rosalia entered and won the fashion show’s Resort Wear Category, which came with $1000 prize.
“We all experience struggle in our lives but I believe that if we work hard with whatever resources we have and believe in ourselves, we will get there,” Rosalia said in between selling her handicrafts at the 2019 women’s expo last month (June).
In 2016, Rosalia attended the Pacific Arts Festival as part of the Fiji Arts Council delegation.
Rosalia believes that her involvement with the Savusavu Market Vendors Association significantly boosted her entrepreneurial intentions.
UN Women Fiji MultiCountry Offices’ Markets for Change Project works towards, among other things, the creation and strengthening of representative marketplace groups which in turn enhances the roles and influence of women market vendors.
“I joined the association because it felt good that there were people who cared enough to come down to the market to support us get better at what we were already doing; I was deeply encouraged,” Rosalia said.
“Before that, there were no training, we just existed coming to the market and going back home daily just trying to make some money. The Markets for Change Project training was like a new beginning, a step forward.
“The association united us and taught me about innovative approaches. Training covered topics like leadership and human rights which I have been sharing in our area when I get invited to women’s group or youth group. I tell them I’ve come from zero to hero, with some help from the side but most important was the help inside my own home.”
The Markets for Change Project is supported by the Australian Government and the Government of Canada and UNDP is an implementing partner.
Women’s economic empowerment (WEE) is a phrase that has featured lately, with Fiji completing its fourth national women’s exposition while an inaugural regional WEE Forum brought together stakeholders to discuss the many barriers women experience to being economically empowered perspectives.
The International Centre for Research on Women defines an economically-empowered woman as one who “has both the ability to succeed and advance economically and the power to make and act on economic decisions”.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recognises women’s economic empowerment as a prerequisite for sustainable development and for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speaking at the Fiji National Women’s Expo, UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office Representative Sandra Bernklau reiterated UN Women’s global commitment to advancing women’s economic empowerment, crucial for advancing gender equality.
“We know how important women’s economic empowerment is and how it supports and inter-relates with all other pillars of our key gender equality goals. Without women’s participation in economic life, women cannot advance. And without the value and input of women in the economy, our nation's economy cannot advance,” Ms Bernklau said.
“Women’s economic empowerment is critical for national development — we all know that we cannot progress as a nation when half the population is left behind.
“Participating in economic activities — such as producing the expo’s premium artistry products for value-added sales — allows women to make positive changes in their own lives and their communities, with positive ripple effects for the whole nation.
The Markets for Change Project now supports 18 inclusive, effective and representative market vendor associations, an expansion of 200 per cent from the initial six functioning associations that received assistance in Fiji since the project’s inception in 2014.
The market vendor associations continue to grow and in 2018, membership in the 18 associations grew to 8232 with 82 per cent of those members being women.
For Rosalia, the sky is the limit with her thirst to learn new things and break new grounds unquenchable; she just started dreaming bigger.
“One of the things we learn from the Markets for Change training is diversification. I have come out of my comfort zone and am doing more than handicraft and now I am getting into fashion,” a beaming Rosalia said.
“I’ve been coming to the national women's expo every year with the support of the Ministry for Women. It is a great place to be; we meet new people and share knowledge and experience. We see new things and of course we try to make some money. For me, if I see something I haven't tried before, I will want to do the same but better, so it is like an incubator too for new ideas.”
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