Women in Vanuabalavu, Lau, should be encouraged to sell their handicrafts to supplement their income.
This follows the Vanuabalavu Expo, which enabled several women to earn additional money over the course of three days.
Daulako Mavoa from Boitaci Village in Vanuabalavu was among those who benefitted financially from the expo.
“Women have the skills and capabilities to thrive using their handicraft abilities,” she stated.
“We saw many women displaying their woven baskets, mats, and other handicraft items, which helped generate income for their families over the past three days.”
Mavoa emphasized the importance of platforms like the Vanuabalavu Expo to showcase the talents and skills of the women of Vanuabalavu.
She also noted the need for more training to help these women enhance their handicraft skills.
“I earned more than $300 from selling coconut oil, sasa brooms, and baskets made from coconut leaves,” she said.
“We have abundant natural resources on the island. What is needed is training to further develop the handicraft skills of these women by utilizing these natural resources.”
Mavoa, who has three children—two working in Viti Levu and one residing in Vanuabalavu—has received significant support from her children for her expo participation.
“They helped pay for my kalavata and other materials needed to create my crafts for the Vanuabalavu Expo. I enjoyed participating in this event and meeting other women from the 17 villages of Vanuabalavu, each showcasing their unique kalavata, which was wonderful to see.”
The three-day event concluded yesterday.