With its target market set, Rise Beyond the Reef Fiji recently opened its first shop in Sabeto, Nadi. 

Tourist attractions in Sabeto are the Hot Spring Mud Pool, the Sleeping Giant and Zip line and tours.  

This $30,000 shop was opened two weeks ago and was funded through an Irish Aid. It is situated next to the home of its founder Janet and Semi Lotawa.  

The Lotawas had established the Rise Beyond the Reef to bridge the gap that exist between rural and remote communities, government, and the private sector in the South Pacific, by sustainably creating a better world for women and children.  

Rise Beyond the Reef works with women in remote communities around the country, teaching them to create and market beautiful homewares and crafts made using traditional skills.  

Products vary from children’s games and toys to fashion items such as necklaces, pouches, and bags. Homewares including placemats, coasters and wall hangings are woven from a material called kuta – a reed harvested from lakes, and then dried out to use for weaving.  

Rise Beyond the Reef products are in 46 Tappoos outlets around the country, also sold at some boutique shops in resorts and supplies to international markets.  

They have three distribution centers, one in Australia, New Zealand and one in the US. To date since 2015, their bank from the communities surpasses $1.3 million.  

Few months ago, they launched their sited amazon, the global platform for e-commerce. Mr Lotawa said the potential with e-commerce was that it was easily accessed by their customers. “Basically, from the informal sector, from the village to the global state. With e-commerce their product is easily accessed by the total population of the world which is 9 billion now. Those are the potential in there.”  

He said the shops opened in Sabeto was a vessel.  

“For economic empowerment we are building a better vessel. That store is a vessel that being built to allow us to anchor into those communities so that we can really address what we really want to address, low income, poverty, insecurity, high rates of domestic violence.”  

“When we see the women income increasing, it empowers them to be able to find their voice and make their chores first within their households, then into their Mataqali then into their village and that is the way we believe we will empower women.  

“What Rise Beyond the Reefs believed that when women thrive, the Vanua will thrive.”  

About Rise Beyond the Reef  

Rise Beyond the Reef has had a significant impact on Fiji’s communities since 2015. More than 300 women have benefited from economic and leadership development and nearly 50 leaders have strengthened their employability through formal roles.  

It has also had a positive impact on the environment through a 150 percent increase in source materials such as plants and vines.  

At the Sabeto site they have their operation room with about 20 staff members. With agriculture they have more than 100 farmers.  

Part of the activities for visitors was a farm tour. They also have shepherding with women in sheep farming.  

Their next project was to build a restaurant near the shop. 

Story By: mereleki.nai@fijisun.com.fj