Varanisese Maisamoa dedicated her win at the Fiji Market Vendors Association (FMVA) Awards at the Tokatoka Resort in Nadi on Wednesday to her fellow vendors at the Rakiraki Market.

She scooped the FMVA President’s award for her continued support in empowering women vendors at the market.

“I am happy and honoured. This is for my fellow vendors of Rakiraki, because they endured tough conditions to make a living for their families,” said the Rakiraki Market Vendors Association president.

Over her 13 years in the business she managed to set up the association and improved working conditions for vendors.

The 41-year-old mother of six children oversees the Rakiraki Market Vendors Association with committee members on a voluntary basis.

“Initially we used to sell on the ground, so I pushed for better working conditions. I noticed that the authorities didn’t take issues seriously when I approached them alone, so I started gathering more members,” she said

“We formed the association right before TC Winston and had to register in 2017. Before that, the association ran as a women’s club.”

Their association has grown from six women to 247 male and female members

She said vendors were looking forward to the opening of the new market next year.

She thanked the Markets for Change project team, UN Women (The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women) and the Fijian Government,” she said.

Edited by Percy Kean

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