During a recent visit to Bua, the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, engaged with local women to discuss several pressing challenges affecting their communities. This meeting was part of her tour of the Northern Division and took place at the Bua Soqosoqo Vakamarama.
The Minister was greeted with a traditional iSevusevu presentation before the women participated in a talanoa session, where they voiced several critical issues. Among the concerns raised were transportation difficulties, a pressing need for enhanced public health awareness, and calls for improved support related to financial literacy. Additionally, participants highlighted the alarming rise in teenage pregnancies, as well as the adverse effects of drugs and HIV/AIDS on the youth in the community.
Minister Kiran acknowledged these significant challenges and reassured the women that her Ministry would collaborate closely with Bua’s communities to tackle these issues. She emphasized the crucial role women play in family support, community strength, and local economic contributions.
The visit also included a stop at the Bua Soqosoqo Vakamarama kiosk, located at the new bus bay at Nabouwalu Jetty. There, the Minister motivated the women to create smaller handcrafted items that would be appealing to tourists, underscoring the value of their culture and traditional skills. This encouragement aims to open up better opportunities for families and communities in the region.
Through such engagements, the hope is to empower women in Bua and enable them to make significant contributions to their local economy and society.
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