Women in Vanuabalavu, Lau, are being encouraged to sell their handicrafts as an additional source of income. This comes after the Vanuabalavu Expo enabled several women to earn more money over a period of just three days.
Daulako Mavoa from Boitaci Village on Vanuabalavu was among those who benefited financially from the event. “Women have the skills and capabilities to thrive using their handicraft skills,” she said. “Many women showcased their woven baskets, mats, and other handicraft items, which helped earn some money for their families during the past three days.”
Ms. Mavoa emphasized the importance of platforms like the Vanuabalavu Expo for showcasing the talents and skills of Vanuabalavu’s women. She noted that more efforts are needed to train these women to further improve their handicraft skills. “I earned more than $300 from selling coconut oil, sasa brooms, and baskets made from coconut leaves,” she shared. “We have plenty of natural resources on the island. All that is needed is to train these women on how to enhance their knowledge in handicraft skills by utilizing these natural resources.”
Ms. Mavoa, who has three children, expressed gratitude for their support. Her children, two of whom work in Viti Levu while one lives on Vanuabalavu, helped pay for her kalavata and other items needed for crafting products to be sold at the expo. She enjoyed participating in the expo and meeting other women from the 17 villages of Vanuabalavu, all dressed in their different kalavata, which she found delightful.
The three-day event concluded yesterday.