The opening of the Molituva Women Centre in Tailevu today commits the Bainimarama Government to invest in the potential
of rural women across the country.
This was a key feature of statements shared by the Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni as she opened the new centre in Molituva village in Kuku, Tailevu.
Funded by the Department of Women’s budget, the new facility is designed to boost the income generating for Molituva Women’s Group and will be accessed by some 70 women in Molituva.
The Minister highlighted that the opening of the new centre is also in recognition of the dedication and hard work put in by the women of Molituva.
“The Bainimarama government recognizes that women have great economic potentials and through capital projects like women centres they are given the opportunity to equally participate into economic development of their communities.
This Centre will unfold new economic opportunities for Molituva women, it will enable them to work closely with the Department of Women to access information and trainings on capacity building and leadership development. You must also work together in unity to strengthen the outreach of your work.
“This Centre is just the beginning to many more opportunities to be created in your community and I hope that you will make maximum utilization of this new facility to plan and achieve greater things for your families,” Dr Luveni said.
Molituva Women’s Group president Mrs Vilisi Raviakara said the new Centre will boost their income through ecotourism activities.
“The Molituva women are talented in handicrafts production like mat weaving, making jewelries like (earrings, bangles, necklaces) and ladies handbags using local products like coconuts, voivoi and kesakesa. The women earn income through selling these products to tourists who visit the village twice a month. The Molituva women have also been trained on making handicraft products by the Ministry of Women.
“The handicrafts are sold at prices ranging from $10 to $25 and some of the women are able to earn $100 by selling these items to the tourists who love to buy Fijian made products. Our group has actually saved $1000 by just selling handicrafts to the tourists.
“We are grateful to the government for providing us with this much needed facility, now we will be able to produce more handicrafts and display it at the Centre. We also look forward to organise catering for tourists and bake cakes, pies and bread which will be an additional source of income for us. Our group is indeed thankful to Madam Luveni for being the first minister to visit us and the idea of this women’s centre has been mooted by Dr Luveni during her initial visit to this community in 2012,” Mrs Raviakara explained.
The Turaga-ni-Koro or village headman for Molituva, Mr Tikiko Raviakara said the Centre will help his people to move out of poverty.
“There are 154 people in Molituva and women are the backbone this community. We are glad that the Bainimarama government is the first to initiate a development of this nature to benefit the Molituva villagers.
“The new Centre will not only benefit the women but also the unemployed youths to access skills training and venture into small business and income generating projects. This development will challenge the Molituva villagers to work hard and has also united the men and women to realize the importance of their role in building a progressive society,” Mr Raviakara added.
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