Wako, 72, Turns Trash into Cash
The 72-year-old said not all things were rubbish.
Friday 24 November 2023 | 14:15
Meri Wako at the sixth National Women’s Expo on November 22, 2023. Photo: Ronald Kumar
Meri Wako was singled out as a master of creating something different in the craft business during the sixth National Women’s Expo, which ended yesterday.
Ms Wako, 72, who resides in Raiwai makes creative crafts using recycled materials such as used containers, bottles, shells and old tapa.
She wakes up early hours to pick up bottles and discarded materials on the roadside and has not backed down from pursuing the business despite her age.
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Ms Wako said not all things were rubbish.
“You can use them to beautify your home and cut costs,” she said.
Ms Wako said the products were made into jewellery, vases, jewellery boxes, and decorative bottles.
The items are used as centerpieces for birthday and wedding functions.
“When I started in 2020, I didn’t see it as a business,” she said.
“I worked on my creativity skills and people started to love the idea.”
Ms Wako said there was an increase in the litter problem in Fiji.
Her business expanded into other ventures, which included making roqoroqo packages, tekitekis, and recently, hairpins.
She said the expo gave her a fresh perspective on what she could do to explore and build her business going forward.
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