Women in Vanuabalavu, Lau, should be encouraged to sell their handicrafts as an additional source of income. The Vanuabalavu Expo recently demonstrated how profitable this can be, helping several women earn more money in just three days.
Daulako Mavoa, from Boitaci Village on Vanuabalavu, was among those who benefited from the expo. “Women have the skills and capabilities to thrive using their handicraft skills,” she said. “We saw many women displaying woven baskets, mats, and other handicraft items that helped earn money for their families over the past three days.”
The expo provided a platform to showcase the talents and skills of Vanuabalavu’s women, something Mavoa emphasized as important. She stressed the need for more efforts to train women to enhance their handicraft skills.
Mavoa disclosed that she earned more than $300 from selling coconut oil, sasa brooms, and baskets made from coconut leaves. “We have a lot of natural resources on the island. All that is needed is training for these women to further enhance their knowledge in handicraft skills by utilizing these resources.”
Mavoa, who has three children—two working in Viti Levu and one on Vanuabalavu—acknowledged their support in her participation in the Vanuabalavu Expo. “They helped pay for my kalavata and other items needed to make my crafts for sale at the expo. I enjoyed being part of this event and meeting other women from the 17 villages of Vanuabalavu, each showcasing their unique kalavata.”
The three-day event concluded yesterday.
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