The district of Rewa in the Rewa province is set­ting an example for other districts in Fiji to fol­low.

Currently the district is engaged in constructing foot crossings in its twelve villages – Lomanikoro; Nasiga­toka; Nabua; Nasilai; Nukutubu; Drekena; Nadoi; Vu­nuku; Narocivo; Tavuya, Lokia and Nukui.

They are not waiting for Government help. Villagers organised fundraising for the projects.

Foot crossing projects have started in the villages of Lomanikoro, Nasigatoka, Nasilai and Drekena.

The Government has seen what the villagers are doing and has forked out $29,000 for the projects.

Rewa is known for flooding and during rainy days the movement of pregnant mothers, people seeking medical attention and students are affected and sometimes they cannot leave the villages because it’s too muddy.

The foot crossings will be helpful to mothers going to Naililili Health Centre and students going to Rewa Sec­ondary School, Rewa District School at Lomanikoro Vil­lage and St Joseph Pri­mary School, Naililili.

The second phase will cover the villages of Nasilai, Vunuku, Na­rocivo and Tavuya.

This project will stop when all the 12 villages are covered.

Rewa chief Ro Teimu­mu Kepa has urged other districts in the province to follow suit.

For far too long vil­lages are relying on the Government of the day to carry out what­ever development they want to be engaged in.

The lesson this brings is, first and foremost, to help yourself.

When you make the effort to help yourself, help will surely come your way. Whatever development you want to be engaged in and whatever you want to achieve, the first thing you need to do is to make sure you are 100 per cent okay.

We have to make sacrifices so that whatever is done will benefit not only the family but other people as well.It will make those affected live a happy life.

The foot crossing project in the villages in the district of Rewa will surely motivate other districts in the prov­ince and especially for those who want the same project to follow suit.

As the Marama Roko Tui Dreketi said, “nothing is im­possible”. Surely the foot crossing for other districts in Fiji is not a bad idea.

Some villages have already constructed their own foot crossing and to these villages we congratulate you.

Surely a fundraising event for foot crossings for those who still don’t have one is a good idea.

Villagers living in the urban areas and those working should help because this will be their contribution to making life easier for those in the villages.

It is a fact that some villages are struggling because they do not have the funding.

This is a challenge for all of them and the only way to overcome challenges is find solutions to solve them.

The Government is not always going to be there for you. That’s why you have to learn to handle things your­self first.

Life is so much better when you stop relying on others and work for your own good.