Alliance, Foundation Help Macuata Youths
In a bid to improve the lives of members of eight youth groups in Macuata, Vanua Levu, the Northern Charity Alliance (NCA) and Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation, undertook income generating projects with these groups to the tune of $20,000.
The youth groups identified sustainable income generating projects that could improve their livelihoods with funding from the Foundation which were channelled to the various groups by NCA.
Each group was given $2500 to start their projects which ranged from poultry and piggery farming to beekeeping.
With the success of these projects, the groups have ventured further into other income generating projects like pineapple farming and bakery.
Since establishing their piggery last year, Korovuli Youth Cub president Paula Maisiri said their revenue doubled this year.
“From the sale of our pigs, we have been able to generate $3000 and we are thankful to NCA and Foundation for their belief in the youths of this village,” Mr Maisiri said.
“The project has given a sense of belonging and unity among youths of the village as they work together daily in the piggery.
“The project has not only brought us together, but youths have been deeply convicted of their roles as the future guardians of the village and its developments.”
Meanwhile, Mataniwai Women’s Group co-ordinator Karalaini Disika said their poultry started with breeding layer birds.
“We have now switched to meat bird farming which is currently getting us close to $1000 a month,” Ms Disika said.
“With the revenue earned, we have been able to buy a computer with webcam which is assisting children to carry out their research from our make-shift net café in the village.
“We also bake pastries once a week to earn extra money. We earn about $70 a week from pastries.”
She said with the approaching festive season, they were ready for a business boom as people would buy chicken from the group.
NCA project officer Tevita Tokalauvere said it was encouraging to see the groups flourish with the assistance they have received.
