Digicel Fiji is celebrating 16 years of service by awarding a total of $16,000 to support three community projects through their 16th Birthday Initiative Program. The beneficiaries include the Mokani Village Youth Club from Tailevu, Karoko Village Youth Club from Vanualevu, and the Soqosoqo Vaka-Marama for Navosa-Nadroga in the West. This funding aims to aid in the development of essential projects that will benefit their respective villages.
This year, Digicel Fiji adopted a new approach by having the communities apply for the funds. The selection process required villages to submit proposals, which were evaluated based on established criteria. In previous initiatives, the company distributed over $50,000 to 10 communities, but due to the increasing costs of project implementation, they opted to consolidate their contributions this year.
According to Farid Mohammed, CEO of Digicel Fiji, the funding was strategically allocated across three geographical regions—Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western Divisions—to ensure equitable support for all areas within the country, correlating with their anniversary celebration.
Joeli Vueti, an advisor for the Mokani Youth Club, expressed gratitude, referring to the grant as an “early Christmas present” for the community. He emphasized that the project would address critical needs, particularly through the installation of solar lights that would provide children the ability to study at night and assist women traveling early to markets.
To ensure the responsible use of the grant, Digicel Fiji will conduct follow-ups with the communities to monitor the progress and effectiveness of the initiatives supported by the funds.
This initiative not only symbolizes Digicel Fiji’s commitment to community development but also highlights the significance of collaboration between corporate entities and local organizations in fostering positive change.
In a world where community support is vital for growth and sustainability, programs like this can ignite hope and encourage more organizations to invest in local initiatives.
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