Page 22 - IB September 2024

Women Establish Businesses

in their Communities

UN Women Supports 12 Sub-Grantees through the WRD 2. The Nabuni Women’s Group, based in the outskirts of
Project Suva, is comprised of ten dedicated members. Led by retired
femLINKpacific is proud to announce our 12 sub-grantees who Home Economics teacher Mrs. Tagimuri Qionibarvi, the group
are making a significant impact in their communities through the specializes in fabric art, sewing, and jewellery making.
UN Women Women’s Resilience to Disaster (WRD) program. Mrs. Qionibarvi’s passion for sharing her knowledge has
The sub-grantees comprises of 6 groups and 6 individuals, inspired the group members to pursue their creative endeavours.
who received their first tranche of grants in early August, following Through her guidance, the women have developed valuable skills
the signing of agreements on July 23. To ensure the grantees are and gained confidence in their abilities.
well-equipped for success, femLINK conducted a comprehensive By combining their talents and working together, the group has
training session, covering financial literacy, community profiling, been able to create beautiful and unique handcrafted products.
and business sustainability strategies. Their efforts not only provide financial support for their families,
The grantees were carefully selected based on a rigorous but also contribute to the local economy and preservation of
application process and their demonstrated potential to contribute traditional Fijian crafts.
to the economic development of their communities, and also
contributing to the national economy. 3. Due to limited bus services in Bavu village, Di Laite’s
Captivatingly, sub-grantees represent a diverse range of rural community relies on hitchhiking to reach the nearest shopping
women, including Aging women, Career women, young women, centres, such as Danny’s and those in Nadi Town. This is
women living with disability, and members of the LGBTQI+ particularly challenging on weekends when people often go
community. This is a rare gem, showcasing the breadth of talent shopping for frozen foods.
and potential within Fiji’s rural and peri-urban areas. “I sell a variety of items, including soup packs, ice blocks,
lollipops, sausages, and fries. I plan to expand our offerings to
Making a Difference with Just the First Tranche include fresh fish, frozen cassava, and other products in the
Just weeks after the first tranche was disbursed to the sub- future. To support my canteen’s operations, I am considering
grantees, the recipients spared no time, which was evident when investing in a solar panel. This would help reduce our reliance on
the first site visit was conducted late last month and early this grid power and lower our operating costs,” said Di Laite.
month. I would like to express my gratitude to femLINKpacific and UN
The grantees have indeed demonstrated a strong commitment Women for their valuable assistance in providing the initial capital
to empowering women and improving the livelihoods of their to start this business.
family and community members. Some of the detailed stories of
the sub-grantees are shared in the next few pages. 4. Akisi Lewavo, a resident of Koronubu, originally
envisioned starting a cattle farming business with the grant she
1. Keresi Tamani aka Kessy from Yadua village in Nadroga received. However, faced with limited funds, she changed her
has generously shared her profits to support widows, orphans, plans to focus on a more feasible venture, a small canteen.
and the poor in her community. Kessy, a dedicated pastor’s wife, Her business has not only provided financial benefits for her
mother, and President of the Yadua Women’s Club, is a remarkable family, but has also allowed her to support vulnerable community
woman who has overcome the challenges of disability. Kessy runs members. Akisi regularly shares a portion of her profits to assist
a successful canteen, using the profits to support single mothers those in need, including bedridden individuals, young mothers,
in her community. She did not allow her disabilityto limit herself. and the elderly.
Rather, she focuses on her ability, operates a canteen and uses Akisi’s entrepreneurial journey demonstrates the power of
the profits to help single mothers in her community. adaptability and resilience. Despite facing initial challenges, she
Despite her own challenges, including caring for her child with has successfully established a thriving business that benefits
a brain tumor, she remains committed to supporting other able- both her family and her community.
bodied women.
5. Julekha, an Indo-Fijian widow living in Nadi, has focused
‘Stand up, move forward, and strive for your goals.’ her grant on hydroponics and fabric art. She expressed gratitude
She acknowledges the support of UN Women in to femLINKpacific for accepting her into the program, saying,
renovating the Yadua sea wall and providing assistance “After losing my husband last year, femLINK helped me find a new
to start her canteen. She also expresses gratitude to purpose and motivated me to move forward.” Her hydroponics
femLINKpacific for amplifying the voices of women. project has been successful, and she is excited to see her plants

grow and eventually sell at a competitive price.

22 Islands Business, September 2024 Sponsored Content Sponsored Content