At 6 a.m., while many people are still enjoying their sleep, Ulamila Rabe is already up and ready to start her day. Her job requires her to hit the streets as soon as day breaks, and despite the hard work it entails, Ulamila feels satisfied and proud to serve as one of Savusavu’s street cleaners.
“My job pays the bills,” she expressed. “It is important, and I have to love it.” Alongside two other female colleagues, Ulamila plays a vital role in keeping the streets of Savusavu clean and tidy.
While some may undervalue this line of work, Ulamila believes it’s essential. “It’s not an easy job, but it’s rewarding, especially when you know you’re part of a campaign to beautify the area,” she remarked. “At the end of the day, when I’m tired, I look at the clean streets and feel good.”
Despite often working in the background and being underappreciated, Ulamila and her teammates diligently navigate the streets of Savusavu with their brooms and dustbins. To address the rising litter issue in the seaside town, local authorities established an all-female street sweeping team about three years ago, especially during a boom in tourism. The rationale was simple: women who manage households successfully could do the same for the town.
This innovative approach quickly yielded results, and residents began recognizing the improvements. The female sweepers work six days a week, divided into two shifts: from 6 a.m. to noon and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tikoivatukoula Vuniqaikula, another dedicated street cleaner from Qeleni, Wainikeli, shares her story. Previously a stay-at-home mom, she relied on her husband’s farming income. Now, she earns her own wages and contributes to her family’s finances.
“It didn’t take long for them to realize we did a better job than the men, and the streets looked cleaner when we finished,” said Tikoivatukoula. “After that, the work was permanently assigned to us three women.”
Initially, the women were hesitant to take on this public duty due to fears of public perception, especially as no iTaukei women had previously held such roles. However, as time went on, their apprehension waned. “At first, we were shy, but we reminded ourselves about the importance of our work,” Tikoivatukoula explained. “Now, we take pride in our contributions to the community.”
Tikoivatukoula expresses gratitude for the challenges that pushed her to work harder. “Cleaning the streets, though often looked down upon, can elevate someone small into a role model,” she stated. “We want to show Fiji and the world what women are doing to keep Savusavu beautiful. No matter where we are, we must do our best.”
Ulamila lives in Yaroi, just outside Savusavu, where she cares for her two youngest children attending secondary school. She works to provide them with opportunities that steer them away from the streets.
Although their work can be grueling and underappreciated, Ulamila and Tikoivatukoula persevere, facing exposure to the elements, insults, and harassment. They recognize the considerable challenges communities face from rising occurrences of litter and waste.
Overflowing public bins contribute to unsightly streets and health hazards. If street cleaners are not properly provided with tools and gear, their tasks can become burdensome and even hazardous. Nevertheless, Ulamila and Tikoivatukoula refuse to give up, believing their work is particularly suited for women and essential for maintaining a clean, healthy environment.
“We enjoy our work because it’s a natural extension of what we do at home. Women are resilient,” Ulamila affirmed. “All we ask is for people to take responsibility for their rubbish. Please dispose of it in bins and respect the environment for the sake of everyone living in a clean and safe area.”