The secret to success is to start from scratch and for Navneet Shivakaran, the proud owner of Navneet’s Tailoring business in Labasa, the dictum rings true for him.
In 2020, Mr Shivakaran attended a Mobile Skills Training on sewing which was organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The 24-year old lad from Dreketi began his journey operating a tailoring business of his own from his residence in Malawai, Dreketi where much of his craftsmanship includes sewing of wedding attires, school uniforms, kids wear, women’s and men’s wear among many other styles.
Navneet’s Tailoring began to take a turning point as it gained traction from the public but he did not rest on his laurels and sought out the Youth Grant under the Ministry.
The Dreketi lad was handed over an industrial heavy duty sewing machine worth approximately $3000 last October.
Like all of the Government’s initiatives and programmes, the assistance has a monitoring mechanism.
Upon careful monitoring conducted by the Ministry, an increase was noted in the number of customer orders.
On a weekly average, Mr Shivakaran generates an income of $295- $465 and was able to tailor at least three blouses, three wedding lahenga’s, three school uniforms, five shirts and five bula dresses per week.
The Minister for Youth and Sports, Jese Saukuru, during his official visit to the Northern Division earlier recently, said that appropriate guidance and training was vital for young people to make knowledgeable decisions, avoid crime and use their abilities and potential for a sustainable livelihood and success.
He said that the Government wanted to unearth and develop the best in the youth, empowering them to become agents of change, development and sustainable livelihood in communities.
-ENDS-
(Source: Ministry of Youth and Sports)