More women artisans from Ba province have been encouraged to qualify for this year’s National Women’s Expo.

Hundreds of women displayed their art for sale at the Koroivolu Park in Nadi yesterday.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa, told the women who displayed their products for showcasing to be sure to grab the opportunity to learn and exchange ideas of doing their own art and craft with others.

She said this was so that they could gain more knowledge on ‘Fijian Made Crafts’.

Arriving from Yasawa Island to participate in the craft show was 70-year-old, Nainasa Natia.

She had brought the crafts from at least 28 women from the Viwu Women’s Association on Yasawa Island.

“These are our daily source of income and we sell it to visitors to the island. We are glad to showcase our products here in Nadi,” Ms Natia said.

“We have been participating in the expo for the past three years and have benefitted from the exposure and learning experiences,” she said.

She had displayed decorations made from sasa (broomsticks), fashionable ‘kava bowls’, and food trays.

Also displaying her uniquely designed crafts made of recycled packets and wrappers was Sisirie Tuivata of Busybees Fiji, located in Lautoka.

Ms Tuivata said she was looking forward to participating at the National Expo this year, for the second time.

“Our initiatives involve making kitchen displays, table displays and decorations through recycled used papers and as well as screen printing of masi,” she said.

In the handicraft business for the past 10 years, Ms Tuivata was happy as well with the exposure given through events as such.

“On this very day I wish to tell all the women to be independent as much as possible but join hands together to uplift women in the society,” Ms Tuivata said.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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