KILAKA villagers in Bua celebrated the return of one of their own, Maria Seramana who was part of a women's delegation on a solar engineering study trip in Rajasthan, India.
Villagers flocked to the village hall where food was prepared in abundance to celebrate Mrs Seramana's return after being away in India for about six months.
Mrs Seramana shared her experiences during her India trip as villagers listened earnestly at the Kilaka village hall.
At the age of 48 years, Mrs Seramana dreamt of settling down peacefully in the village with her husband to look after their three children and their only grandchild.
"However things changed rapidly for me in a short time when I was part of the team that was chosen to be part of the delegation to India, a joint initiative between the Ministry of Women, United Nations Women, Barefoot College and the Indian High Commission," she said.
"The experiences I have had there will be a special memory that I will continue to live with and I take this opportunity to thank the Indian government especially the staff and the students of Barefoot College in Rajasthan who have become my extended family during our stay in India. "I have learnt a great deal during my stay at Barefoot College and I also like to thank the government for giving a housewife like me the opportunity to do something that is totally different and alien to women in my age especially out here in Bua," she said.
Mrs Seramana said she could not wait to share with villagers what she had learnt during the India trip saying that it has been a blessing.