The Qere Youth Club, located in Naveyago Village, Navosa, has inaugurated a tent hire business in a significant initiative aimed at enhancing tourism in the Naqalimare district. This venture was made possible through a generous grant of $6,000 provided by the Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation.
Sikeli Gudru, the club’s advisor and treasurer of the Tikina Youth Council, expressed immense gratitude for the support, stating that the marquee would not only serve as a profitable rental asset but also be critical for conducting training and capacity-building workshops for the youth in the surrounding eight villages. He remarked on the logistical challenges the community faced in acquiring marquees for events, which often necessitated long-distance travel. Now, this initiative will foster financial stability for the youth club and deliver essential services to the Tikina community.
In addition to the marquee business, the Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation has also donated musical instruments worth $2,500. These instruments will be utilized to entertain visitors to Naveyago Village, enhancing its appeal as a cultural hotspot while promoting economic opportunities for local residents. The foundation’s executive, Ambalika Kutty, emphasized that this support would leave a substantial legacy for the youth club and the wider Naqalimare region. She noted that the club is dedicated to maximizing opportunities that generate sustainable income, thereby contributing to overall community development.
The grant was awarded after a detailed application submitted in May of the previous year. Comprehensive training on the assembly and disassembly of the marquee was provided by the supplier, equipping club members to effectively manage their rental operations.
This development marks a positive step toward community empowerment and economic upliftment in an area where agriculture predominates. With the establishment of this tent hire business and the addition of musical entertainment, the Qere Youth Club is poised to significantly impact both local engagement and tourism growth in the region.
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