Language No Barrier For Takayawa
She is now equipped to set up a business and be self-sufficient
Tuesday 26 July 2022 | 17:02
Asenaca Takayawa in Savusavu on July 21, 2022. Photo: Supplied by Na i Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei Cakaudrove.
The term language has no barrier fits well for aspiring traditional crafter and entrepreneur, Asenaca Takayawa.
Her dedication and commitment, despite being born with a hearing and speech impairment, gave her the edge to learn about being a businesswoman and registering a business.
On top of that she had to travel from Somosomo Village in Taveuni, to do all her business in Savusavu because there was no interpreter in Taveuni to help her with the business registration.
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Despite this setback, she managed to find an interpreter, thanks to the assistance from the Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei Cakaudrove (SVTC). The SVTC is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that is focussed on providing the needs of rural iTaukei women in Cakaudrove.
The women’s group had engaged a sign language interpreter through its U.S. Embassy-funded Economic Recovery Project to assist Ms Takayawa. Through this assistance, Ms Takayawa managed to get her business registered.
“I am grateful to SVTC for faciltating the services of an excellent sign language interpreter to assist me during the U.S. Embassy’s Economic Recovery Project-funded Entrepreneurship training and even for my request to register my business."
“I wish sign language interpreters were available in all basic services centres or be on call to help us with our special needs whenever we want to access such services or to participate in any capacity building programmes.”
The training was held at the Ra Marama Great Hall in Savusavu.
She now returns home to Taveuni, equipped to set up a business.
Ms Takayawa, a mother to three children, specialises in tapa making, tapa design and weaving.
She hopes more young Fijian women would show an interest in tapa designing as a business.
The SVTC’s objectives are to enhance the status of iTaukei women to preserve, encourage, and strengthen traditional values, culture, arts, crafts, chants, songs and dances (meke) throughout the province.
SVTC also facilitates a range of educational and training programmes for rural women to develop their capacity and promote gender equity.
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