Church empowers women members

THE United Pentecostal church has organised various shows to generate income for their members and empower women economically.

A recent handicraft show was held last Thursday in Labasa and involved women from as far as Taveuni and Bua.

Known as the Veisereki Women’s group under the church banner, their purpose is to financially support their husbands in looking after their families.

The group’s secretary, Iliseva Volai, said they organised various shows to ensure that members sold their products and earned an income to take back home.

“We are not just concentrating on the spiritual things, but we are helping our women to realise their potentials and talents in the handicraft they make,” she said.

“It’s about putting God’s gifts into use and not hide the talents he has blessed us with. Whatever money these women earn from selling, they take back home and the group does not take any single cent.”

The members, she said, also had a duty to teach younger members how to make various handicraft items.

“So the younger women or our daughters are members of the princess group and they learn from the mothers which is very encouraging.”

Mrs Volai said they raised $5000 through donations at last week’s show.

“We were also blessed to have the Minister for Women Mereseini Vuniwaqa at the show encouraging our women to continue with small businesses.”

Mrs Vuniwaqa, who visited the group after officiating at the Fiji Day celebrations at Subrail Park, thanked the women for sacrificing their public holiday to be part of the show.

She reminded the women that they played a vital role in caring for the welfare of their families.

She also asked them to be part of the annual northern craft show that is held in Savusavu.