‘Not an easy journey’
Surviving without social welfare benefits or paternity claims
YOUR child should be your biggest motivation to achieve more and do better. This was the message from Esita Nadakai Karanavatu, a single mother, to three teenage girls who survive without social welfare benefits or paternity claims.
Ms Karanavatu, better known to friends and loved ones as Esther was also a social worker.
She was part of a project focused on empowering single mothers from informal settlements in Fiji who are struggling financially.
The Empowering Solo-Mums Project under the umbrella of the International Needs Fiji Organisation, was a charity-based group that assisted less fortunate and marginalised women in a bid to restore their physical, emotional, social and spiritual identity.
Ms Karanavatu said dealing with the traumatic experiences that some women and their children went through at home was a continuous challenge
She said she was able to overcome this by referring the cases she dealt with to the relevant authorities, engaging them with counsellors, offering voluntary counselling and following up on their progress.
“My passion for social work and the fact that I am a single mom, I can relate to the struggles they go through and it’s not an easy journey,” she said.
“I had been praying for quite a while that if I needed to work for a particular marginalised group, than it would be in a field where I could participate in ensuring that the four principles of social justice are fully implemented ... and the Lord answered my prayers.
“I met the beautiful and passionate women working at the project and they invited me to their Christmas party and then I became part of it.”
She added her greatest achievement was being able to look after her three children without receiving any form of financial assistance.
“Personally, it would be the fact that I managed to raise my daughters on my own with no financial support from State welfare and zero paternity claims.”
The 41-year-old works as a researcher and was also a policy writer.
Ms Karanavatu, is a strong advocate of women empowerment and, said young women in Fiji must identify their strengths and choose a career that inspired them towards excellence.
“Despite our gender inequality issues and the misconception that we are the weaker sex, we are not, we are strong and resilient.
“To single moms –— do not let your current situation wear you down. Your child should be your greatest motivating factor to achieve beyond others expectations.
“There are support mechanisms and support systems in place that can assist you in rearing your child.”