Women from the Naiyalayala district in Ra have initiated a trial project to provide pre-cooked meal packs for employees of FIJI Water. The Naiyalayala area encompasses five villages: Drauniivi, Togovere, Rabulu, Naseyani, and Nananu.
The FIJI Water Foundation has partnered with Rise Beyond the Reef and Sera’s Gourmet to train groups of women from these villages in various skills including food preparation, cooking, and basic health practices related to food hygiene. The training also covers the appropriate use of cooking equipment and maintaining sanitary conditions in cooking areas.
Vasiti Ritova, a spokesperson for Naiyalayala, noted that the women are committed to meeting the needs of the company. “We started last week with a trial run. FIJI Water Foundation officials will return to discuss our future plans. Each food pack is priced at $7,” she explained.
Currently, the women prepare around 30 meal packs daily for the day shift crew at FIJI Water. After cooking in community hall kitchens, two representatives from local women’s organizations accompany FIJI Water Foundation officials to ensure the food packs are delivered on time.
Ritova, who is from Nananu Village, has established the Nananu Women’s Cooperative aimed at enhancing economic empowerment through the creation of value-added activities.