The University of the South Pacific (USP), in collaboration with the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) Programme, recently held two community-based financial literacy workshops on September 26 and 27 in Mavana Village, Lau. Funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden, these workshops were named “Money-Minded Financial Literacy” and “Money-Minded Business Basics.” Their purpose is to equip participants with essential skills to manage income derived from marine resources and to foster financial stability for the future.
In partnership with the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ), this initiative falls under the broader Money-Minded Financial Literacy Program, which is being implemented across the Pacific ACP region. Dr. Jokim Kitolelei emphasized at the training that the program teaches individuals how to make informed financial choices and improve their livelihoods, particularly for coastal communities in the Pacific.
The workshops were conducted in the iTaukei language to ensure that all community members could easily understand the material presented. Additionally, a representative from the Fiji Ministry of Fisheries, Sailosi Dili, expressed gratitude for the training, noting its relevance to local fishing communities and excitement for future sessions.
Participants learned key concepts including differentiating between needs and wants, budgeting, managing income between harvests, and planning for long-term financial stability. Emele Balekawa from Uruole Village shared that the training significantly helped her understand how to begin a business and reshaped her financial mindset. She noted the challenges of starting a business in a rural setting due to a lack of business education and stressed the importance of prioritizing her family’s needs over community and religious obligations.
Tupou Fotofili, Secretary for Sawana Youth and a staff member at Fotofili Enterprise, also expressed appreciation for the program. She found the training highly relevant and beneficial, inspiring her to consider starting her own venture utilizing local resources.
The Money-Minded Financial Literacy Program is being implemented in Vanuatu, Fiji, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands in collaboration with respective ANZ country offices.
USP is one of four main partners in the EUR 45 million PEUMP Programme, which seeks to enhance sustainable management and ocean governance for food security and economic growth while addressing climate change resilience and the conservation of marine biodiversity. The program adopts a holistic approach, integrating aspects of ocean and coastal fisheries, community development, marine conservation, and capacity building into a unified regional initiative. The PEUMP programme is funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden and operates within the Institute of Marine Resources at USP’s School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences.