Villagers’ Initiative Raises $70K to Rebuild Livelihood

Yaro villagers on Kia Island are reaping the rewards of taking the initiative to rebuild their livelihood through fundraising drives.

This is after category five Tropical Cyclone Yasa ravaged their village in 2020.

Many villagers funded their own expenses to rebuild their houses, while collectively they raised $70,000 to rebuild their hall and church.

Yaro Village was among severely affected villages in the province of Macuata Province, after the cyclone left 26 families homeless and 12 houses partially damaged.

Most of these houses have been rebuilt.

Their hall and church were leveled to almost ground zero.

The main source of income is fishing because land for farming is scarce, but these resilient people did not wait for the government’s assistance.

Village headman Sulu Volauono said villagers were quick to accept their loss and began rebuilding works soon after the cyclone.

He said they were encouraged because of their secluded geographical location.

“The people who were in the village during TC Yasa were traumatised, the majority of them still live in fear of natural disasters,” Mr Volauono said.

“Now, when a warning is issued, they fear for their lives, but they have learned a valuable life lesson – to be prepared for whatever comes their way.”

Mr Volauono said villagers have learned from the past and admitted that climate change was getting big and real.

He said it was important that villages across Fiji implement strategic preparation plans for unpredictable events so lives are not lost.

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