Issue 1 August 2014

Na I Soqosoqo Vakamarama I Taukei Cakaudrove (SVTC)

Women stand up and shine

Inaugural Bi Annual News Letter

Issue 1 August 2014

About Na I Soqosoqo Vakamarama I Taukei,

Cakaudrove (SVTC)

Who We Are: Na I Soqosoqo Vakamarama I Taukei, Cakaudrove (SVTC) is a NGO based in Cakaudrove Province, Savusavu, Northern Fiji. SVTC is an organisation representing all the Indigenous Women in the Cakaudrove Province, many of whom live in remote, rural villages. The groups objectives are to enhance the status of Indigenous Women to preserve, encourage and strengthen traditional indigenous values, culture, arts, crafts, chants, songs and dance throughout the Province. SVTC also facilitates a range of education and scholarship programs for remote communities within the Province to assist them to develop their communities capacity and promote gender equity.

The organisation has quarterly meetings attended by representatives from each of the provinces 16 tikinas (districts) led by a committee consisting of a President, Treasurer, Secretary and seventeen other representatives. The SVTC is represented annually at the meeting of the national womens organization Soqosoqo Vakamarama I Taukei Fiji. SVTCs Resource Centre is being built in Savusavu. This project aims to provide the following benefits to SVTC Members and the community in general:

Space for Cakaudrove women to exhibit their cultural skills/craft work, generate an income and protect and their livelihood.

Protect and display indigenous womens craft work and skills.

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Safe and affordable temporary accommodation for rural people travelling to and from the town.

Provide training facilities for younger Cakaudrove rural women

and youth.

Our Vision: To empower rural indigenous women, their families and communities within the Cakaudrove Province to value their traditional culture and skills while realising their full potential for a brighter future.

Our Mission: SVTC is dedicated to preserving traditional rural indigenous womens culture and craft while improving the physical, mental and social well-being of women, families and their communities. We will achieve this by the preservation and marketing of traditional crafts and skills while facilitating the delivery of empowering educational programs throughout the Cakaudrove Province.

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Our Values: Excellence

Creativity

Respect for Culture

Integrity

Supportive

Social Justice

Wellbeing

Environmental Sustainability

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Presidents Report In January this year I took over the Presidency of SVTC due to the untimely passing away of the former President Adi Mitimiti Lewenilovo. I have had a very busy beginning to the new year adjusting to my new role.

What an exciting year it has been for SVTC!

In January, together with Adi Kunea, I went to Suva to meet Emma Healy the AWFA Project Coordinator from Australia. We had to interview two contractors for the Resource Centre Jaduram Industries Ltd and Estate Builders.

SVTC had applied for volunteer assistance and in April this year an AYAD and an ABV plus the partner of the ABV volunteer arrived. Work soon began developing Strategic and Business Plans for SVTC.

In May an enthusiastic workshop of approximately one hundred members from all over the Province came to the Provincial Office to speak of their desires for the future of SVTC. These ideas have now been developed into a Strategic Plan and Business Plan for the future. At this meeting we put forward the idea of having a logo and catch phrase WOMEN STAND UP AND SHINE We have begun to use this on all our written documents.

Through SVTC SGP/GEF granted money for the Natewa and Tunuloa Project. This project, is for forest resource conservation and educational sustainability workshops, was run in partnership with the Cakaudrove Provincial Office - the first

Issue 1 August 2014

of three stages is now near completion. At the present time there is no paid staff to oversee this project.

At the beginning of the year SVTC had only a draft constitution. This has been developed ready to take to the Annual General Meeting for approval.

Road Shows have been taken to the districts to familiarise them with the planning and constitution. These have been exciting and most worthwhile events for all participants.

An awesome stage of our progress has begun! On Friday 20th June the foundation of our long awaited for Great Hall was laid. The Provincial Council Holdings Ltd donated land and the construction of the Great Hall has finally begun. Architects Without Frontiers Australia has designed the building and

passed it on to Clearview

Architects of Fiji who are now acting on their behalf. AusAid have funded this first stage of building. The Great Hall is due to be completed by the

end of this year. Meli Maivusaroko from Clearview Architects has been appointed as the local project manager for the construction of the Great Hall.

Di Kavu Fong Director - President

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Service Delivery Highlights for 2014 About fifty people participated in a workshop in March this year. This gathering was held at the Provincial Administrators Conference Room.

Participating with SVTC were youth, women and members of the

disabled community. The

discussions covered climate change, gender

mainstreaming and financial literacy. This

gathering showed a new era for SVTC as we began to involve others in our activities. For the first time this year five women became members of the Cakaudrove Provincial Council. Previously only one woman, the president of SVTC, attended the Provincial Council. Road shows have been another highlight this year. These Road Shows have been a means of conveying the message of our new Strategic Plan and Constitution which has been under the guidance of our ABV volunteer Ken Dusting and his wife Robyn. Districts have been very generous in their support for these Road Shows and the women have actively

Issue 1 August 2014

participated in the discussions and brainstorming. These are paving a way forward for SVTC. Under the guidance of our AYAD volunteer, Joyce Vasta , SVTC is undertaking a pilot project to provide an income generating bread oven for the women of Laucala and Vuna Districts. Testimonials and Staff Observations

Some comments from the community:

# Now we have a direction to go forward Manaini Tulagi

# The workshop was fantastic Eva Ravisa

# I enjoyed everything we did in the workshop Marica Rabuka

# The Road Show shows that we are moving to another level Seini Ligairi

# I loved the way Rabale was dancing and singing at the Workshop. Siliva Leweniqila

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SVTC Executive Board Members and Staff SVTC Board of Directors Mrs Adi Salaseini Kavu Fong - President/Treasurer (Founder) Mrs Manaini Tuibua - Secretary Ms Adi Kunea Lalabalavu Cakaudrove I Wai Vulase Mare - Cakaudrove Vanua Iva Batiki Nasavusavu Adi Makitalena - Wainikeli Asinate Bole Laucala Letila Tui Vuna Seini Ligairi Wailevu Adi Marama Wailevu Timaima Baleisuva - Koroalau Senimili Mara Tawake Salote Daugunu Saqani Lavenia Delaibatiki - Vaturova Marica Rabuka - Navatu Akosita - Natewa Maria Talatoka - Naweni Meresiana Qativi - Tunuloa Mere Naiyawa - Wairiki

Staff: Ms Siliva Leweniqila - Community Co-ordinator and Administration Officer.

Supporters ! Indigenous rural women of Cakaudrove Province ! Cakaudrove Provincial Holdings Limited ! Chiefs of Cakaudrove Province ! United Nations Development Program SGP/GEF ! Cakaudrove Association of Australia ! Cakaudrove Provincial Council ! Architects Without Frontiers Australia ! Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade ! Australian Youth Ambassador Development ! Australian Business Volunteers