EVERY morning the Vaileka Market in Rakiraki receives daily updates of current affairs and educational programs from the UNDP-funded market learning centre.
Since its establishment in October last year, the learning centre has provided news, health, business and safety updates from relevant stakeholders.
Speaking through an intercom that can be heard within the market area and nearby taxi stands, Vaileka Market Learning Centre co-ordinator Milika Sekira delivers the day's news and conducts community announcements to more than 80 vendors.
Mrs Sekira said the daily updates were effective in educating vendors about important issues that concern them, their families and their community.
"This is the only way that they can learn about issues concerning health, violence against women and children and safety during rainy conditions," she said.
"We inform them about the health effects and the precautionary measures they need to take."
Mrs Sekira says the morning programs run from 9am to 1pm.
"The vendors appreciate these daily programs because they are a group of people who tend to get ignored.
"There are awareness programs carried out in schools, communities and villages but none for people like market vendors. They cannot leave their produce to attend workshops or educational programs, so we bring the learning material to them.
"They have an opportunity to carry out their business as usual while at the same time learning something new."
Market vendor Laisa Naduva welcomed the initiative by UNDP and the Rakiraki Town Council.
She said the updates were informative, educational and effective.
"I enjoy the updates from the National Fire Authority because they teach basic fire skills and things that we need to do when there is a fire," said Ms Naduva.