WOOD processing, woodcraft science and working with saw mill machines was something 21-year-old Niumai Dikavani Togaciri never dreamt of doing.
The young lady of Nakasa Village in Cakaudrove was one of 15 graduates who attained a certificate in Applied Woodcraft Technology from the Timber Industry Training Centre in Makoi yesterday.
Ms Togaciri said studying at the centre was challenging at first because she was one of only two women in the class, and she had to work hard to attain her certificate and the Most Improved Student Award.
"During the one-year course, we had to create our own woodcraft projects which were unique," Ms Togaciri said.
"We were told to create something different and so I created a pulpit in remembrance of my late father, who was a church minister.
"I created a unique design and had a plaque mounted on it dedicated to him for his service. He motivated me to take up the course."
Ms Togaciri said initially doing a man's job was hard but eventually she had found it easy to understand the basics of woodcraft science.
"I hope to do my practical work after this for a year and later become a forestry official.
"Working with heavy machinery and dealing with different wood designs was certainly different from the usual pen and paper learning system."