Ulamila Cakau has made a passionate and urgent call to women, encouraging them to embrace their roles within the home to foster positive change in their communities.
Speaking as the Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection at the 2024 Fiji Women’s Mock Parliament yesterday, Mrs. Cakau expressed a personal belief that women can change their lives and those around them by fully engaging in their roles as mothers and community members. She emphasized that such engagement can help address societal issues like drug abuse and other social problems.
Mrs. Cakau discussed the home as a “safe space,” highlighting its importance as an environment where women can exercise 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,” she stated.
“In this space, it is up to us to make our marriages work, in this space we birth and nurture our babies, in this space we teach, teach, and teach again,” she added. “We teach values, we teach about 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 commitment. We must walk the talk.”
Mrs. Cakau emphasized the importance of aligning actions with words, noting that children quickly notice inconsistencies. She urged women to reduce time spent on phones and social media and to encourage their children 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,” she said.
Mrs. Cakau’s message was clear: by dedicating themselves to their roles within the home, women can bring about significant change and succeed in their efforts to improve society.