Page 48 - IB April 2023

SPBD SPBD

MEET THE MEMBERS

Waikete Centre Chief, Fipe Tikovakaca
Originally from Sese village in Vanua Levu, Fipe Tikovakaca
has made Waikete village, Tailevu her home for several years.
And the village is more significant to her now since she
joined the South Pacific Business Development’s (SPBD)
Waikete Centre in 2016.
The former employee at Mark One Apparel says she joined
the microfinance company after hearing from neighbours that
they were able to meet their needs through SPBD’s support.
“In the past, I wanted a loan from the bank to start a business
but what deterred me were the many bank requirements.
Unlike SPBD, their loan process is very convenient, not many
questions are asked. What SPBD requires is your honesty,”
Tikovakaca says.
The 36-year-old businesswoman started her entrepreneurial
journey selling kava but that didn’t do too well, she said. “I also
tried running a canteen but that too didn’t earn much. But
through those times, I continued to work on my sewing skills,”
she adds.
That’s right. Tikovakaca did not leave the garment industry
entirely; she is in fact operating her own sewing business from
the comfort of her home, thanks to SPBD.
“I found there were not many people offering sewing
services in my area so I kept pursuing it by sewing shirts and
then just last year, I was finally able to sew dresses. Running a
sewing business has been really profitable for me compared to
my previous businesses. I earn enough and I earn from home,
so I feel relieved,” she says. Fipe Tikovakaca
“Right now, my sewing business is very busy,” she said. “I
have many customers from Waikete and other places who former Waikete Centre Chief who is now based in American
want their clothes sewn by me.” Samoa. “Someone has ordered that I make a set for them. My
The new product Tikovakaca is working on is ‘lacadrau’ or Na Levu has been teaching me to perfect my skills in making
quilt. The skill of making quilts was taught by her aunt and quilts by hand,” she said.
Last year, Tikovakaca was promoted to the role of Centre
Chief at Waikete Centre where she oversees the socio-
economic welfare of her more than 20 members.
“I was selected Centre Chief last year and I was definitely
not anticipating it. When the selection was made, I consulted
my husband about it because he’s like my main backbone in
everything I do. He told me, “I don’t want you to take up the role
because you’re the youngest there. The rest are older ladies’’.
I find it hard to delegate tasks and speak on behalf of them.
The older members insisted that I become Centre Chief as
the Centre needed a leader. Then my husband said, “If you’re
willing, then take it! Remember, that role comes with great
responsibility. So I said yes to the call,” Tikovakaca revealed.
Leadership is definitely one of Tikovakaca’s strengths as she
ensures that her Centre members get the support they need.
“Some of our members are market vendors at Nausori
Market. Some do ‘lawa sua’ (catching crabs using traps made
of plaited magimagi (coconut fibre string)) to sell on Saturday
markets while others do ‘kesakesa’ (printing designs on cloth
materials),” she said.

48 Islands Business, April 2023
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