At 6 am, while many remain comfortably in bed, Ulamila Rabe is already awake and preparing for her day. Her job requires her to hit the streets at dawn, and despite the hard work involved, she takes pride in being one of Savusavu’s street cleaners. “My job pays the bills,” she states. “It is an important one, and I have to love it.”
Ulamila, along with two other female colleagues, plays a pivotal role in keeping the streets of Savusavu clean. Although this job is often overlooked and deemed less important, Ulamila understands its significance. “It is not an easy job, but it is satisfying, especially knowing that you are part of a beauty campaign,” she explains. After a long day, she finds joy in looking at the pristine streets they maintain.
Despite often being underappreciated, Ulamila and her colleagues persist in their duties, equipped with brooms and dustbins, as they diligently serve their community. Three years ago, as part of a strategy to combat the increasing litter issue amid rising tourism, local authorities established an all-female team of street sweepers, believing that if women could keep their families and homes clean, they could do the same for the town.
This approach quickly yielded results, with residents noticing a significant difference in cleanliness. The female sweepers work six days a week, divided into two shifts: one from 6 am to 12 pm and the other from 9 am to 5 pm.
Another committed street sweeper is Tikoivatukoula Vuniqaikula, who comes from Qeleni, Wainikeli, in the Cakaudrove province and resides in Urata Village with her husband. Transitioning from being a stay-at-home mom, she now contributes financially to her household through street cleaning. “It didn’t take long before authorities realized that we did a better job than men, and the streets looked cleaner at the end of the day,” she notes. Since then, the job has been permanently assigned to the three women.
Initially, the women felt apprehensive and shy about sweeping in public, concerned about how they would be perceived. However, they overcame their fears by recognizing the significance of their responsibilities, treating the work like household chores. “Now we are proud of what we do. We see it as an important contribution to the community,” Tikoivatukoula adds. “Without us, Savusavu would be in a mess, and our streets would be filthy.”
Tikoivatukoula expresses her gratitude for the challenges she has faced, which have motivated her to work hard and persevere. She believes that while sweeping may be viewed as a lowly job, it is in such roles that one can become an inspiration. “We want to share with Fiji and the world the great story of what women are doing to keep Savusavu clean and beautiful. Wherever we are placed, we must perform our best.”
Ulamila lives in Yaroi, just outside town, where she cares for her two younger children, who are in secondary school. Her earnings are dedicated to providing them with opportunities for a better life, away from the streets of Savusavu.
Although Ulamila and Tikoivatukoula’s work is demanding and can be hazardous, it is not well-compensated or glamorous. They face exposure to the elements, along with challenges such as insults and harassment. Nevertheless, they remain determined, acknowledging the growing problem of litter and its negative effects on the environment and public health.
If street sweepers are not properly equipped and given the right tools, their work can become burdensome and unsafe. Yet, Ulamila and Tikoivatukoula continue undeterred, believing that their work is vital for maintaining a clean and healthy environment. “We enjoy the work we do because it is a natural progression from what we do at home. Women persevere and are enduring,” Ulamila emphasizes.
All they ask is for people to take responsibility for their waste, dispose of it properly in bins, and respect the environment, ensuring everyone can enjoy a clean and safe living space.