My first Magazine UNDP REACH Impact Stories v13 web_FNL | Page 12

be empowered, be the change
July 2017
Suva, Fiji – Empowering a woman empowers a nation
– this was recognized by women who were present at
the recent Fiji National Women’s Expo. Women from all
over Fiji who participated in the Expo strengthened their
awareness on and accessing social, economic and legal
services provided by the Government.
The Expo, organized by the Ministry of Women, Children
and Poverty Alleviation, brought women artisans to
Suva, the capital city of Fiji and provided the platform to
showcase their handicrafts and other products with the
objective to promote their talent and provide them with
access to new marketing opportunities.
The Expo was also the venue to empower women through
raising awareness of rights and accessing government
services. The awareness and service delivery sessions
were coordinated by the Rights, Empowerment and
Cohesion (REACH) for Rural and Urban Fijians Project.
Akanisi Tawa, President of Natogo Wise Women’s Club,
Tavua, Western Division found an opportunity to apply
for a ‘Care and Protection’ support.
“I am a mother of four children and also a grandmother.
I sell vegetables at Tavua market and some handicrafts
through our women’s club. Those are our source of
income, which is barely enough to support my family,”
she said.
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“I was explained the documents required to apply for
the assistance. And then I was assisted by a Legal Aid
Commission officer and provided with further assistance.
I was given the statutory declaration to submit for my
application.”
Women and visitors at the Expo were able to meet and
consult officers from the Ministry of Women, Children
and Poverty Alleviation, Legal Aid Commission and
Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission who
were part of the REACH mobile service team. The REACH
Bus, which is used to deliver REACH services to remote
and rural communities, was showcased at the Expo as a
‘mobile office’.
475 artisan women from the Western, Northern, Eastern,
and Central Divisions of Fiji, many of whom are from rural
and remote maritime communities, are now confident to
make a positive change in their lives after the Expo.
Among them were a hundred women from Fiji’s Eastern
Division which is maritime area of Fiji. They traveled
from respective islands, some of them takes more than a
few days or a week, to Suva depending on the available
maritime transport. They were able to participate in
the REACH awareness raising and delivery of services
organized prior to the Expo.
IMPACT STORIES Rights, Empowerment and Cohesion (REACH) for Rural and Urban Fijians Project