Woman’s Group Unveils Seasonal Calendar To Enhance Disaster Resilience

Na iSoqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei Cakaudrove (SVTC) unveiled its integrated traditional food resource seasonal and disaster risk reduction calendar recently.

SVTC president, Adi Salaseini Kavu Fong, said the calendar unveiling was possible through a project funded by the Australian Volunteer Project Impact Fund.

The purpose of a calendar, Adi Salaseini said, was to create awareness of enhancing disaster resilience of women in the province and strengthening their ability to secure food resources during the event of a disaster or cyclone.

She said despite the lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic last year, they still managed to secure the funds for the awareness project.

“Twenty-eight villagers in the districts of Tawake, Wailevu West, Laucala and Navatu were covered as part of the awareness implementation process and women were taught how to manage their family’s food needs in disaster periods,” she said.

The project helped SVTC to enhance the resilience of rural iTaukei women in Cakaudrove in relation to the impacts of climate induced disasters, and strengthening food security.

“We received reports during the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Yasa and Ana on the devastating impact they had on our natural food resources from many communities in our province,” she said.

Adi Salaseini thanked the Australia Volunteer Programme for its continuous support for their projects over the years.

She added their job as a women’s society remained to enhance the livelihood and status of iTaukei women to preserve, encourage, and strengthen traditional values, culture, arts, crafts, chants, songs and dances(meke) in the province

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