Ulamila Cakau has made an earnest appeal to women, encouraging them to embrace their roles at home to foster positive changes in their communities.
Speaking as the Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection at the 2024 Fiji Women’s Mock Parliament, Mrs. Cakau expressed a deeply held belief she considers transformative for women globally.
She underscored that by wholeheartedly accepting their positions as mothers and community members, women possess the ability to transform their households and, as a result, address societal issues such as drug abuse and other social problems.
Mrs. Cakau emphasized the home as a “safe space,” where women exert significant influence.
“In this home, you and I have power and authority. We have the time and ability to make a difference within our families and our nation,” Mrs. Cakau said.
“In this space, it is up to us to make our marriage work, in this space we birth and nurture our babies, in this space we teach, teach, and teach again,” she said.
“We teach values, we teach God and love, we teach wisdom, knowledge and understanding, kindness, respect, and humility. Women present and watching today, how do we do this? We need time, understanding, grace, and we need commitment. We must walk the talk.”
Mrs. Cakau stressed the significance of consistency between words and actions, noting that children are the first to notice any discrepancies.
“Get off the phone, get off social media ladies! Get your children off social media, get them to read. In the critical years of our children, we must pay the price, we must make time.
“Let’s do it ladies, let’s go back to the four walls of our homes, make a difference, and come out victorious.”
Mrs. Cakau’s message was clear: by dedicating themselves to their roles within the home, women can bring about meaningful change and succeed in their efforts to improve society.