Women-led group drives seawall project to protect Marou coastline

Villagers of Marou in the Yasawa Group of islands can finally breathe easy.

For years, they have watched the sea wash up closer to their homes, eroding the coastline, flooding access paths and disrupting their daily lives.

Children would be carried on shoulders, and at times even swim, just to reach school.

Now, the Ba Province women’s group Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei ni Yasana ko Ba (SSViT Ba), led by Adi Sivia Qoro, is delivering change.

The group is spearheading its third project, the construction of a seawall.

The first two projects are completed, including the Yavusania riverbank project in Nadi last year.

SSViT Ba co-ordinator Leilani Tora said women and youth across Yasana o Ba were driving community-based solutions to climate change, flooding and agricultural challenges.

She said needs were identified through their women representatives across districts.

“These women are focused and engaged in community-driven solutions,” Ms Tora said.

“The women themselves identified issues affecting them, and we work with partners and donors to address them.”

The team worked closely with Marou villagers from the outset.

“We sat with the community from the very beginning, listening, planning, walking the shoreline and village boundaries together, and seeing just how urgent this is,” she said.

Work involved dismantling a problematic wharf that contributed to flooding and using local resources to reinforce the shoreline.

Ms Tora acknowledged delays caused by government processes, but confirmed work had now begun after machinery was shipped to the island last week.

She said collaboration with government agencies, particularly the Ministry of Waterways, allowed both immediate and long-term solutions.

She thanked the Government and its partners for supporting the project.

Marou Village headman Tuwawa Ratu said their prayers were answered.

“We have long wanted protection for our coastal areas and our people,” he said.