Ulamila Cakau has made an impassioned plea to women, urging them to embrace their roles within the home to instigate positive change in their communities.
As the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Mrs. Cakau spoke at the 2024 Fiji Women’s Mock Parliament, sharing a personal belief she feels could be transformative for women everywhere.
She emphasized that by fully embracing their responsibilities as mothers and community members, women have the potential to transform their homes and, in turn, mitigate societal issues such as drug abuse and other social challenges.
Mrs. Cakau underscored the home as a “safe space,” where women have considerable 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 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 we need commitment. We must walk the talk.”
Mrs. Cakau emphasized the importance of consistency, noting that children are quick to notice discrepancies between words and actions.
“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 and make time.”
“Let’s do it, ladies. Let’s return to the four walls of our homes, make a difference, and emerge victorious.”
Mrs. Cakau’s message was clear: by dedicating themselves to their roles within the home, women can effect meaningful change and succeed in their efforts to improve society.