Recognising the potential of rural women and economically empowering them continues to be one of the key strategies implemented by Government to alleviating poverty in the country.
Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni said encouraging women into income generating projects is only phase one of this development process while providing them with opportunities through trainings to enhance their skills is the next important step.
“One of the key income generating programs my ministry has ventured into is the sewing program, whereby over 1800 sewing machines have been given to some 935 women groups around Fiji, with the view to financially empower them”, Dr Luveni said.
“After equipping them with sewing machines, the ministry has engaged a trainer who is accompanied by female officers to conduct workshops on sewing patterns, free hand cutting, pattern making, hand stitches and machine maintenance”.
Dr Luveni said this year a total of 20 trainings will be facilitated in the 4 divisions across the country, which will also include the training of single mothers at a Sewing Centre soon to be opened in Suva.
“Recalling on the trainings for last year, workshops had been conducted in 49 villages. These women are now skilled in creative sewing patterns, they can copy any garment and reproduce it both for the family and for profit making. With the fine dressmaking skills they can finish a garment with professional looks,” Dr Luveni said.
The head of the Women’s Ministry said women will also be given an opportunity to showcase and share their skills through the Women Resource Centres in their provinces and their products which will also be showcased at the one weeklong Women Entrepreneurs Expo, to be organized later in the year.
According to Mrs Claudia Jane, a business advisor and sewing skills trainer from United States, currently a Peace Corp Volunteer attached with Ministry for Women, “the response on sewing trainings has been extremely positive! The participants really get their hand dirty and sweat as they fix their machines. They are most grateful for that knowledge. Empowerment has been gained on many levels.”