Women from the villages of Vunuku, Maloku, and Naroi gathered today in Naroi for a transformative business training session focused on harnessing natural resources to develop value-added products.
Led by the Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Protection, with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), this initiative aims to equip women with vital skills in areas such as bookkeeping, marketing, branding, inventory management, and savings strategies.
The training also included group discussions, fostering collaboration and allowing participants to share insights and learn from each other’s experiences.
Mrs. Kalo Leba, President of the Maloku Women’s Group, expressed gratitude for the workshop, emphasising its impact on their business management skills.
“This workshop has broadened our knowledge and given us confidence to explore new opportunities for our products. We now understand how to plan better and grow our initiatives,” she said.
Kalo also highlighted that the Maloku Women’s Group is engaged in several community projects, including a cooperative, beekeeping, and crab breeding initiatives.
Kalo stated that the training would help them expand and manage these ventures more effectively.
Akemi Nagahara, JICA volunteer, stated the training emphasised leveraging local resources to boost income.
Participants were introduced to core business concepts, product development strategies, and rural enterprise marketing techniques.
In addition to business skills, representatives from the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) conducted a session on gender-based violence (GBV), stressing its importance and empowering women to protect their rights.
The Fiji Police also shared vital safety and security information, offering guidance on violence prevention and survivor support.