Digicel Fiji is celebrating 16 years of service by dedicating $16,000 to support three community projects through its 16th Birthday Initiative Program. The recipients of this funding include the Mokani Village Youth Club in Tailevu, the Karoko Village Youth Club in Vanualevu, and the Soqosoqo Vaka-Marama for Navosa-Nadroga in the Western region.
This year, Digicel Fiji opted for a new approach by requiring communities to submit proposals through an application process. The selection was made based on specific criteria tailored for this occasion. Previously, the company had distributed over $50,000 to ten communities, but rising project costs prompted a shift in strategy, allowing for a more focused distribution of funds.
Farid Mohammed, the CEO of Digicel Fiji, emphasized that the initiative corresponds directly with the company’s anniversary. “We wanted to ensure equitable support across the Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western Divisions, which is why the funds were allocated regionally,” he explained. The choice of distributing $16,000 this year reflects the significance of their 16th anniversary.
The advisor for the Mokani Youth Club, Joeli Vueti, expressed gratitude, describing the grant as a timely “early Christmas present” for the community. The funding will help provide solar lights, catering to essential needs, such as helping children study at night and ensuring safer travel for women heading to markets early in the morning.
Given the importance of these initiatives, Digicel Fiji will proactively follow up with the three communities to ensure that the funds are used effectively and responsibly.
This milestone not only celebrates Digicel Fiji’s contribution to local development but also reinforces a sense of community empowerment and support that will have lasting benefits. It reflects a hopeful outlook for future partnerships that prioritize the needs of the local populace.
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