Working together can achieve a lot more.

That is the sentiment of the Yaroi Soqosoqo Vakamarama President, Vakamau Bilovucu as the women in the village in Savusavu were able to fundraise and ensure that the entire village had flush toilets and they were also able to set up a Back to School Fund for the students in the village.

Bilovucu said the women noticed that though they did their share in their own homes, more needed to be done for the village as a whole, so they took up a contract with J.Hunter Pearls - a fresh water pearl designer, where they worked as harvesters and collectors of the pearls.

As a result, in 2004 close to 58 women were able to raise $12,000 and this was used to ensure that all houses in the village had flush toilets.

Apart from that initiative, the women have also set up a back to school fund and so far since 2006 close to 800 children have been able to go to school as their parents were not able to meet expenses.

At the moment, the village women are operating a co-operative store and are also in talks to send some young villagers for tertiary education.


Story by: Paradise Tabucala