Today, the country’s leading iTaukei women’s organisation is known as the Soqosoqo Vakamarama. Its founder, Ronald Albert Derrick, however, had christened the women’s collective, Ruve, when he established the organisation in 1924.
The name change happened when leadership was transferred to Ratu Sir Lala and Lady Maraia Sukuna in 1942.
Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna became the adviser while Lady Sukuna was installed as president from 1942 to 1956. In an article published in The Fiji Times on March 8, 1988, it mentioned that at the time, the organisation had 3000 financial members and 7000 supporting members.
An amazing feat indeed and cause for women to look back with gratitude and appreciation at the remarkable contributions made by some of the outstanding leaders for the improvement of knowledge, skills and living conditions of rural women who were staunch members of the association.
Mrs Derrick initiated a non-formal education program embracing home economics, home management, child care, food preservation and handicraft for rural members to help them meet the economic needs of their families.
Lady Maraia Sukuna who took over presidency in 1942 was instrumental in involving the traditional leaders in the affairs of the association.
Women chiefs, wives of chiefs and Roko’s wives were brought in to play leadership roles in the association.
Lady Sukuna was focused on providing better education opportunities for iTaukei women which led to her setting up scholarship funds for the member’s children.
In its 1947 annual meeting, the Nausori branch of the association under the leadership of Akosita Lolohea Waqairawai, moved that the Great Council of Chiefs should recommend to the government to have a government school for girls set up. That was approved and Adi Cakoba School (ACS)was established in 1948.
Lady Sukuna formed a group out of the Soqosoqo Vakamarama members in Suva during World War II and taught them to knit woollen garments for the soldiers.
During her term as president, she organised fundraising Fiji-wide to help fund the construction of the Nawela Girls Hostel which until today, helps provide reasonable and comfortable accommodation for single working girls and students in Suva.
From 1956 to 1958, Mrs Waqairawai became the president of the association She was directly responsible for translating the English books on child welfare to iTaukei language.
Ms Waqairawai was always concerned about improving the standard of health and sanitation in rural villages. In 1958, the president role was given to Adi Litia Tavanavanua.
Her focus was the social welfare of the elderly and disabled.
After 10 years of service, she retired from her post. During her time as president she introduced the “adoption scheme” where members could adopt a person /children who were neglected and a regular assessment was taken to see whether the child was well taken care of.
During her tenure, the Soqosoqo Vakamarama and other major women’s organisations — in a workshop help at ACS in 1959 under the auspices of the SPC recommended to government the need to set up a unit to service all women’s groups in Fiji irrespective of race, colour and creed.
The services were to be linked to home economics and leadership to help women become better mothers and housewives.
The government approved their request and as a result the women’s interest section was set up.
Adi Laisa Ganilau became president from 1968 to 1981 and was very instrumental in the revival and dissemination of skills and knowledge to members. She was very concerned about the promotion of traditional craft and traditional cooking.
Adi Laisa championed the maintenance of high quality workmanship for all women’s projects.
During her term as president she was able to affiliate the Soqosoqo Vakamarama to the Association Country — Women of the World in 1968 as an associate member society. Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW), was an international rural women’s organisation with 9,000,000 members from 68 countries of the world.
The president in 1988, Adi Lady Lala Mara, throughout her leadership had continued to promote activities initiated by the past residents through health, education, culture, social welfare and charity in conjunction with to the aim of empowering women.
