Women in Vanuabalavu, Lau, should be encouraged to sell their handicrafts as an additional source of income. This follows the success of the Vanuabalavu Expo, where several women managed to earn more money within just three days.
Daulako Mavoa of Boitaci Village on Vanuabalavu was one of the women who benefited from the expo. “Women have the skills and capabilities to succeed with their handicraft abilities,” she said. “We saw many women showcasing their woven baskets, mats, and other handicraft items, which helped them earn money for their families over the past three days.”
Ms. Mavoa emphasized the importance of platforms like the Vanuabalavu Expo in showcasing the talents and skills of the women in Vanuabalavu. She also stressed the need for more training to help women 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 a lot of natural resources on the island. All that is needed is training to help these women enhance their skills by utilizing these natural resources.”
Ms. Mavoa, who has three children—two working in Viti Levu and one living on Vanuabalavu—said her children have been great supporters of her participation in the expo. “They helped pay for my kalavata and other items necessary for making my crafts to be sold at the Vanuabalavu Expo. I enjoyed being part of this expo and meeting other women from the 17 villages of Vanuabalavu, all in their different kalavata, which was wonderful to see.”
The three-day event concluded yesterday.