Women in Vanuabalavu, Lau, should be encouraged to sell their handicrafts as an additional source of income. The Vanuabalavu Expo recently demonstrated this potential, enabling several women to earn more money in just three days.
Daulako Mavoa from Boitaci Village was one such woman who benefited from the expo. “Women have the skills and capabilities to thrive using their handicraft skills,” she stated. Mavoa highlighted that many women showcased their woven baskets, mats, and other handicraft items, which helped them earn money for their families over the past three days.
Mavoa emphasized the importance of having platforms like the Vanuabalavu Expo to expose the talents and skills of Vanuabalavu women. She believes more efforts are needed to train these women to enhance their handicraft skills further.
“I earned more than $300 from selling coconut oil, sasa brooms, and baskets made from coconut leaves,” she said. She added that the island’s natural resources offer great potential, and with proper training, women can enhance their handicraft skills by making the most of these resources.
Mavoa shared that she has three children; two work in Viti Levu, and one lives on Vanuabalavu. Her children have been strong supporters of her participation in the Vanuabalavu Expo. “They helped pay for my kalavata and other items needed to make my crafts for the expo. I enjoyed being part of this event and meeting other women from the 17 villages of Vanuabalavu, each in their different kalavata, which was a beautiful sight.”
The three-day event concluded yesterday.