The Women Entrepreneurs Business Council (WEBC) held a business training session with the women and youth of Draubuta and Lawai village to address some of the gaps these villagers were facing in terms of reaching their economic potential.
According to the WEBC chairwoman Eseta Nadakuitavuki, the training which was held on Tuesday was also a follow up from the training held in September last year.
“We did it specifically for the Draubuta villages that includes women’s group and also the youth group,” she said. “That training was actually funded by GIZ Pacific.
“And we were so glad that they funded it because it enabled WEBC to visit this village right up in the interior of Navosa.” She said this group of villagers needed help.
Ms Nadakuitavuki added the last time they traveled there they had provided training in various areas.
“We taught them how to plant mushroom, and some ideation creation ideas, we had a financial literacy session that was conducted by Westpac and also in organic farming.
“Now we actually advised them that if we have another funding, definitely there will be some follow up because from that training, we actually taught them how to set their goals short term, medium term and long term.
“Hence the reason we are here today but even before today, we had planned to come and visit them in April.
“And because of the lockdown, we have to defer the training.”
And also, in addition to business skills training, Ms Nadakuitavuki said they would be also teaching them other life skills training as well.
“And we’ve got our own member from WEBC who’s going to teach the women how to sew disposable sanitary pads.
“And we feel that it’s very important because, going back to the financial management, one of the major expense for us lady monthly is sanitary pads.”
She said these women could use this to create a business for themselves.
Ms Nadakuitavuki also revealed that the main commodity of trading for these villages were yaqona and the women is other cash crops.
She added they were thankful for the British High Commission in Suva for funding this event.
Around 30 to 40 people are expected to attend the business training session.
“So one of our pillars for Women Entrepreneurs Business Council was bridging the gap.
“We’ve started that because that’s part of our strategic plan that took us from 2018 to 2021,” said Ms Nadakuitavuki.
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