There is no limit to what women can accomplish outside of their comfort zone.
And 21-year-old Mere Radinibeqa is a testament to this, having received her Boat License and Restricted/Class 6 Master certificate after a two-week mobile skill training which was facilitated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in partnership with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF).
She said women were restricted from doing many things in the villages and she hoped her participation in the program would encourage women to follow in her footsteps.
Ms Radinibeqa sincerely believes that women can also do a man’s job.
“Before only men can drive boats and do all the stuff related to an outboard engine, but today I am a living statement that women can also do anything they want to do as long as they put in the hard work,” she said.
She said she had to leave home and travel to Nasilai Village in Tailevu where the training had taken place.
She credits her success to her loving parents back at Naitutu Village, a few hours away from where the training had taken place.
“I’d like to thank my parents for letting me go and stay at Nasilai Village because we had to stay there during the weekdays and were allowed to go home on Friday and come back on Sunday, so I thank them both for their patience and understanding.
“My mother was the one pushing me to take up this training and it was a great opportunity and I am so thankful to have been a part of this program.”
Ms Radinibeqa said she was considering attending the Fiji Maritime Academy and furthering her studies.
“I dream to maybe become a captain one day.” She said it was a great experience for her, but faced some challenging times in the classroom.
“It was hard working in a class where it was male dominated as there were times when they did not listen to me and it annoyed me, but I pushed through to get to today and receive this certificate.
“I also thank the boys in the class and my teachers who supported me throughout the two weeks of training.” She encouraged women and youths to take advantage of such skills training in future.
“We don’t know the outcome of tomorrow so make the most of today and its opportunities.” Seventy people attended the training. She was one of the 14 women participants.
