At 59, Lite Tuikaba from Kaba Village in Tailevu has faced numerous challenges in her life, yet she remains steadfast. After her husband passed away in 2017, she took on the sole responsibility of supporting her family, which includes her son and three daughters who have since started their own lives.
Mrs. Tuikaba’s daily routine often involves getting up early to fish or tending to her farm to provide food and earn a modest income. Despite the obstacles she has encountered, she reflects with gratitude on her recent experience at the Confident Woman – Community Essentials Training organized by LifeBread Stay Connected.
She found the workshop to be transformative, helping her reevaluate her life and rediscover her purpose. One particularly impactful activity was the “Tree of Life” exercise, which allowed participants to contemplate their backgrounds, personal journeys, achievements, and future goals. For Mrs. Tuikaba, this exercise resulted in a profound moment of self-awareness.
Through the training, she learned that leadership is defined not by titles, but by personal accountability and daily choices. Mrs. Tuikaba emphasized the importance of self-awareness, health care, setting boundaries, and making strategic decisions, all of which she views as forms of leadership.
Additionally, budgeting emerged as another key takeaway. Having managed her household alone for several years, she recognizes the importance of financial discipline for stability. She is eager to share her newfound knowledge with other women in her village to promote wise financial management and reduce unnecessary hardships.
Mrs. Tuikaba hopes that the training will return to her district of Waya to benefit more women, stating, “This kind of training will benefit many women. I want to see it come back again.”
Her story embodies the resilience of women across Fiji who continue to support their families and communities, proving that growth, hope, and empowerment are achievable at any phase of life.
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