Merewairita Raciva had to walk 2.7 kilometres through the mangrove forests around Tavuya Village, in Rewa to reach the Nasali landing so she could attend her classes at the Makoi Women’s Vocational Training Centre.

But yesterday, all those long travels paid off for the 32-year-old. She was among the 24 students who graduated from the training centre with a Certificate in Sewing.

“I would be given $5 daily for my fare to and from school and with that, I had to figure out a way to get me to school,” she said.

Ms Raciva would start walking from her Tavuya home from as early as 6:30am to Lomanikoro where she would catch a water taxi (wooden punt) over to Nasali landing.

“I catch the 8:30am bus from the landing to Nausori, from Nausori to the bus stop near the Force Training Group (FTG) in Nasinu because it’s 78 cents,” she said.

“I then walked from there to school which is about a half an hour’s walk, just so I could save on my fare for the day.”

Ms Raciva said: “I look back now to the eight weeks of training and say it was worth the struggle.”

She dedicated her success to her parents, especially to her sick mother, Tokasa Raciva.

“My mum has been my source of encouragement and getting this certificate has boosted my vision of starting my own business and helping my family financially,” she said. “I have learned so much and the school has instilled in me a lot of skills and knowledge to help me become an entrepreneur. Because of that I always looked forward to coming to school.”

She also thanked her teachers for their patience, love and care towards the students. Ms Raciva plans to further her education and skills.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa applauded the centre for successfully enabling hundreds of women to attain skills and knowledge to become economically active

“The impact of the work of this centre does not stop at the individual women graduating from here but rather the lives of everyone attached to her. This fact alone establishes the greatness in the vision and goals of this institute,” Ms Vuniwaqa said.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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