FIJI’S Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa visited the women of Nacula, Malakati, Naisisili and Navotua in the Yasawa group today where they showcased their artwork and handicrafts during the Tikina Nacula Mini Craft Show.
Mrs Vuniwaqa also presented certificates to 33 women for completing the Floral Arrangement and Tie and Dye training at the Nacula Village Hall.
The Minister said the floral arrangement and tie and dye would provide a gateway to providing employment opportunities and income generation for the women’s groups by helping them to diversify their products for buyers such as tourists who visited their villages daily.
Mrs Vuniwaqa said one of the biggest challenges faced by women living in rural areas was finding a sustainable market for their products.
She said this was not a challenge for the women of Nacula because the tourist market was right on their doorstep.
Nacula Women’s Group president Litiana Vulavou, 61, said the training was an eye opener because the women had learnt to use raw materials around them for screen printing, tie-dye and floral arrangement, which could all be a source of income for their families.
She said they were already looking forward to the divisional craft show and the National Women’s Expo next year.
