Esita Lotu, 27, said her family was grateful towards ‘Making A Difference Fiji’ for reconstructing their home in Navoli, Ba. This comes after their previous home was built using the remnants of their house, which was destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016.

Ms Lotu moved into the two-bedroom house with her husband and two daughters last week.

“It was completely blown away by Cyclone Winston. We were right inside, but we managed to escape when the house got blown off and we went to my aunty’s house two metres away,” she said.

“I only remember the time, that was 21st February after 8’o clock at night when the tropical cyclone struck, that same time we were inside the house and it got blown off; it took us one hour to go right up for shelter.”

She said the organisation discussed her family’s ordeal during a meeting and confirmed the project would be done in partnership with Australian based non-government organisation – 1Love Fiji Foundation (1LFF).

“I’d like to acknowledge Ashika Singh of ‘Make A difference Fiji’ she’s the leader in the western team, she was the one running around with us making the quotation and going around in her car doing everything regarding this house,” she said. Ms Lotu also thanked the families in Navoli, Ba, who helped construct her family’s home.

Making A Difference Fiji founder Renu Snowsill said the total grant used to construct the home was $5900.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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