THE Soqosoqo Vakamarama of Cakaudrove has hailed the ground-breaking ceremony of the country's first Women Resource Centre in Savusavu yesterday as a blessing.
Organisation trustee Adi Kavu Fong said the centre was also the first of its kind in the province.
Adi Kavu said they had been planning to build the centre since 2008.
"We are indeed thankful to the Australian High Commission for their enormous contribution which has enabled the project to be a reality,"said Adi Kavu.
She described the centre as a multi-purpose facility that would serve the women of the province in many ways.
"It is a culture preservation centre which will house an archive for art and other related cultural or traditional craft indigenous to the province of Cakaudrove alone.
"We often faced problems in the past with our rural women when they are in Savusavu Town and they do not have a place to rest for the night thus, the research centre will also act as a transit facility for our rural women."
Adi Kavu also said the project was a beginning for other projects.
"We are very thankful to the men of Cakaudrove, especially the Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, who is the patron for the Cakaudrove Women's Group," she said.