Naitasiri Rural Women Training Project Is Launched

Assistant Minister of iTaukei Affairs, Hon. Adi Selai Adimaitoga, as Chief Guest launched a pilot training project for rural women in Naitasiri recently. The training project is a collaboration between the iTaukei Trust Fund Board (TTFB) and the Fiji National University (FNU).

Last month, TTFB and FNU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) towards this rural women’s training project, which focuses on building entrepreneurial capacities for rural women in several villages within the Naitasiri province.

The pilot training project between FNU and TTFB earmarked to run for ten weeks is the first of its kind, a unique collaboration between an established academic institution and a corporate investment company. FNU through its College of Humanities and Education will provide experienced facilitators for theory and practical courses towards the training project, whilst TTFB has committed to providing funding to the tune of $65,000.00 for the entirety of its duration.

Chief Guest, Assistant Minister of iTaukei Affairs, Hon. Adi Selai Adimatoga (seated, second from left) with the Taukei ni Waluvu, Ratu Jese Romukidawa seated to her left; pictured here with some of the sixty lady participants for the rural pilot training.

In launching the project, Hon. Adi Selai Adimaitoga said, “this training will provide expertise and skilled advice as a capacity building for these women for the ten-week programme. FNU’s facilitators will provide theory and practical exercises to achieve desired learning outcomes. The key areas of focus for the training will be in craftmaking, fashion designing, dress-making and tailoring, hair-styling and hairdressing and craft of jewelry making.

Building capacities to enhance resilience in communities is a key objective for this training project. And during this global pandemic which is still encapsulating the world, training exercises like this is a welcome platform to encourage and empower our communities, as it boosts self-reliance which stimulates an intrinsic entrepreneurial drive.

The pilot training programme will see around sixty women from the six villages within Tikina Matailobau, in the province of Naitasiri, namely Nairukuruku, Navuniyasi, Tailevu, Delaitaga, Nabena and Matailobau, participate over the next ten-weeks. If successful, it will be rolled out to other provinces.

The project’s fundamental objective of this pilot programme is to broaden income-generating opportunities, in particular for women and youths. It is hoped that this will help in improving the livelihoods of rural and semi-rural communities, in the face of new realities posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief Guest, Assistant Minister of iTaukei Affairs, Hon. Adi Selai Adimatoga with staff of both organisations engaged in the delivery of this pilot training programme, namely Fiji National University and the iTaukei Trust Fund Board.

The pilot training programme will see around sixty women from the six villages within Tikina Matailobau, in the province of Naitasiri, namely Nairukuruku, Navuniyasi, Tailevu, Delaitaga, Nabena and Matailobau, participate over the next ten-weeks. If successful, it will be rolled out to other provinces.

The project’s fundamental objective of this pilot programme is to broaden income-generating opportunities, in particular for women and youths. It is hoped that this will help in improving the livelihoods of rural and semi-rural communities, in the face of new realities posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.