Ra Naari Parishad, a community organisation founded in 1989, is moving from decades of grassroots support into a new phase that blends cultural tourism with sustainable livelihoods for women in Ra. The group, based in Rakiraki Town, has long provided training, mentoring and safe meeting spaces for women and girls across the province; its latest development is participation in the YGAP Accelerator Program to develop a gender‑inclusive agri‑tourism initiative.
With recent backing from Women’s Fund Fiji, Ra Naari Parishad operates a community space that has become a focal point for learning and healing as well as enterprise. Women from remote settlements gather at the centre for discussions on gender equality and leadership and for yoga, meditation and music sessions designed to support emotional wellbeing. “Our office is not just a building,” said Ra Naari Parishad coordinator Radha Nair. “It is a safe space, a classroom, a healing centre, and now a launching pad for women entrepreneurs.”
Economic empowerment has long been central to the organisation’s work. Over the years Ra Naari Parishad has run skills training, gardening projects and small‑scale production of traditional foods such as homemade chutneys and pickles to help women generate income and strengthen household resilience. These activities serve dual purposes: preserving cultural foodways and providing regular cash flow that can broaden women’s economic choices in rural areas.
The YGAP Accelerator opportunity marks the most significant step yet toward scaling those livelihood activities. Under the programme Ra Naari Parishad is developing an agri‑tourism model that seeks to be gender‑inclusive by design — providing pathways for women to participate as hosts, food producers, guides and entrepreneurs. The proposed initiative will showcase authentic Indian cultural traditions in Ra alongside sustainable farming practices and locally produced goods aimed at visitors and niche markets.
Organisers say the agri‑tourism project is intended to create steady, market‑linked incomes while strengthening cultural pride and environmental stewardship. By packaging farm stays, traditional cooking demonstrations and markets for preserves and crafts, the plan aims to connect village producers directly to visitors and buyers, keeping value within local communities. The involvement in YGAP also brings mentorship and business development support that Ra Naari Parishad leaders say will help formalise operations and expand market reach.
As the organisation looks forward, its leadership emphasises that these initiatives are an investment rather than charity. “With the right opportunities, women do not just survive; they innovate, they lead, and they transform communities,” Ms Nair said. Ra Naari Parishad plans to continue expanding programmes from its Rakiraki office, deepen partnerships with funders and development partners, and scale the agri‑tourism pilot so that it benefits women across Ra province.
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