More than 100 women and girls in Matainoco have joined a new community‑led economic empowerment programme run by the Matainoco Women’s Club with support from Women’s Fund Fiji, as organisers ramp up skills training designed to turn everyday abilities into income‑earning opportunities and strengthen household resilience.
Project Coordinator Isoa Tubuna said the initiative, which began earlier this year, combines practical technical instruction with business‑focused coaching to help participants transition from informal practice to market‑oriented production. “We are already seeing a change in mindset among our women,” Tubuna said. “Through the economic empowerment trainings, women are realising their self‑worth and understanding that they can contribute meaningfully to their family income and community development.”
Central to the programme is specialised sewing training. Participants—many of whom had informal stitching experience but no structured tuition—learned fabric selection, colour coordination, cutting and sewing techniques, pricing and how to identify market demand. The classes include production of traditional tevutevu and wedding sets, skills organisers say will open local and islander market opportunities for cultural garments and event wear.
Complementary workshops in screen printing introduced dye‑and‑dye techniques and value‑added craft production, with trainees making items such as jewellery, earrings and traditional hair flowers. Trainers have emphasised products that can be manufactured at home so women can balance household responsibilities while generating supplementary income. Tubuna said women are increasingly using their time productively and sharing skills across households, changing perceptions of women’s work within families.
The programme intentionally targets a cross‑section of the community. Women from different age groups are participating, with knowledge shared across generations, and the club has also included at least one woman living with a disability—reflecting an inclusion focus. Organisers say ongoing activities will expand training cohorts and reach women from neighbouring areas as capacity grows.
Partnerships with Lifebread Stay Connected Foundation and the Ministry of Women have broadened the scope of training delivery. Those collaborators have helped the Matainoco Women’s Club access experienced trainers and introduce complementary modules such as financial literacy, governance and climate‑related awareness—skills organisers argue are essential for small‑business sustainability in Fiji’s rural communities.
With several activities still planned, the Matainoco Women’s Club frames the project as more than short‑term skills transfer: its long‑term aim is to equip women with both technical competence and the confidence to sustain small businesses and assume leadership roles in their community. “This project is about building women’s confidence and independence,” Tubuna said. “When women believe in themselves, the whole community benefits.”
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