My dreams became a reality when I entered the Makoi Women’s Vocational Training Centre.

This was the summation by 19-year-old Kirti Kiran Lal of Nasinu who earned a certificate in Hydroponic Farming during the centre’s graduation ceremony in Nasinu yesterday.

Ms Lal said the learning she received was an eye-opener for her and a problem solver for her burdens.

“Joining the institution was definitely a path to a new life for me,” she said.

“I took the hydroponic farming course because it was new and it caught my interest to learn more about the course.

“Being a Year 12 dropout and fulltime at home posed a big challenge for me.

“Every day is like a challenge and I felt a heavy load on my back carrying the burden of daily life but everything came to a stop when I joined the training centre.”

Ms Lal attributed this achievement to her parents who encouraged her to join the centre and take up the programmes on offer.

“Today would not have been possible without the encouragement of my parents and the help of my two trainers,” she said.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa, who officiated at the event, said women’s rights were human rights and the human rights case for gender equality was unarguable.

“Greater gender equality means a country is associated with better education and health, higher per capita income, faster and more inclusive economic growth, and greater international competitiveness,” Mrs Vuniwaqa said.

Since the establishment of the institution in 2015, a total of 753 women have graduated.

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback:  ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj