Suva Street Dwellers Groomed, Dressed For Return Home

Nine people living on the streets of Suva were con­vinced to return home.And as part of being convinced, they were groomed and dressed so they could do so.

This was part of Operation Lesu-i-vale (return home) which was started by the Fiji Police Force, the Social Welfare De­partment and church groups.

Atunaisa Lagilagi of the Great Commission Christian Centre chairs one of the committees which is part of the operation.

His church group and mem­bers of the Ahava Ministry were giving haircuts at the Muanikau Police Post, to those who had chosen to return home.

“This is much more than re­turning home. What we have also done is equip some of them with tools to start farming and for some we are looking to ar­range employment,” Mr Lagi­lagi said.

“Most of them are on the streets because they are not ac­cepted at home. Some of them have been sober for some time.

“Once they are at their home, we will keep checking on them to ensure that we can keep sup­porting them.”

Amori Curuwaqa, 43, of Vu­nuku in Rewa, was a street dweller who was more than hap­py to return home.

He has had a home built for him at his village by Habitat for Humanity and provided with tools from the Ministry of Agri­culture to start providing for his livelihood.

He said he was more than hap­py to return home and hoped to stay there.