$2500 boost for youth group

RECEIVING a $2500 grant from the Vodafone ATH Foundation has boosted the income-generating efforts of the Waisiliva Youth Group.

The group, located on Druadrua Island off the Macuata coast is engaged in seaweed and pineapple farming as a means of revenue generation.

Group members decided to address unemployment, drug abuse and other issues affecting youths by using their natural resources to improve their lives.

Club secretary Kesaia Naikuru said since the inception of their group in February last year, they had been receiving a lot of support from youths on the island.

She said the Vodafone ATH Foundation grant would help them sustain their small fuel station business on the island.

Ms Naikuru also said the assistance would help them fund farming projects.

“We need to purchase a few other implements for both our seaweed and pineapple farms and the grant will just enable us to do that,” she said.

“For youths on far-flung islands like ours, we are most of the time left to our own devices and our contribution and potential was not fully understood in our communities.

“Personally, I came to understand our potential as a youth group after joining this club and seeing what joint efforts like this could achieve.

“It has encouraged me to carry out my duty as secretary of the group diligently especially when I see the efforts put in by our club members.”

While handing over the grant on Saturday, foundation executive Ambalika Devi said they continued to build the capacity of youth and women’s clubs around the country to generate income for their groups and individual families.