Namuka Lakeba Women’s Group: 40 Years of Accountability and Community Resilience in Fiji

Namuka Lakeba Women’s Group Celebrates four decades of accountability and self-driven progress

The Lakeba Women’s Group in Namuka, Macuata has earned praise for more than 40 years of steady accountability, regularly submitting monthly reports that help the government tailor support to the community’s needs. This long-running practice demonstrates a model of women-led project management that does not rely solely on government assistance.

Minister for Women and Children Sashi Kiran said the group’s approach shows women can lead community initiatives while raising their own funds. The club has built a resource centre and maintains income-generating activities such as fishing and seaweed harvesting, underlining their sustained self-reliance. “For 40 years, they have been raising their own money and managing their resource centre. They have weekly and monthly meetings, submit reports to us, and this accountability makes it easier for us to support them,” Kiran noted.

The minister also highlighted that women in the Namuka community are thriving as entrepreneurs, earning steady income from selling nama and other produce at Labasa market. The group’s president, Mereseini Rasivi, expressed gratitude for the government’s timely assistance, saying this is the first support of its kind they have received since the previous Rabuka administration. “Before, we had to borrow cooking utensils from nearby villages for big events. Now with our own, we are forever thankful, as it will benefit all of us,” she said.

Looking ahead, the group has asked for awareness programs on gender-based violence and child abuse. These issues are among the most frequently reported in the Northern Division, and the Ministry of Women is prioritising them for villages and communities across the region.

This story mirrors broader efforts across Fiji to empower women and strengthen community resilience. Other women’s groups have benefited from government-led initiatives, including provision of essential kitchen items to empower local women and social protection scheme allowances for group members, reflecting a wider commitment to gender equity and sustainable development. As these programs continue, communities like Namuka are showing how organized, locally led initiatives can deliver lasting social and economic benefits while fostering leadership among women and youth alike.