Labasa
Thirty two women were part of femLINK’s convening in Labasa held at the St. Thomas Anglican Church Hall. Participants included young women, women’s associations, clubs and networks with representation from 14 clubs of a total of 1223 people. 1303 households were represented with 3 members from the LGTB network, and 6 new members joining the convening.
Women leaders had the opportunity to contribute their stories on their experiences around COVID19, its impacts on their role as community leaders, their families and how this affects their role as catalysts of change and peace builders.
Women leaders discussed the rise in urban to rural drift through this COVID19 particularly for family members who had lost their jobs and were headed back to their villages.
Unfortunately, there were also rising incidents of theft from plantations and vegetable farms.
Access to transportation was hard for farmers and women who made an income selling food crops especially around the issue of pricing.
"Peace means balanced meals, proper medication and proper water services…” says Amra Wati, a sentiment that highlights the basic needs lived realities of women leader’s peace and security priorities agenda during humanitarian crisis.
Labasa Network members during the September convening at the Labasa Community media Centre.
Bua
Twenty three women were part of femLINK’s convening in Bua, held in Lekutu. Participants included young women, women’s associations, clubs and networks with representation from 8 clubs of a total of 1039 people. 1223 households were represented with 7 new members joining the convening.
Women leaders had the opportunity to contribute their stories on their experiences around COVID19, its impacts on their role as community leaders, their families and how this affects their role as catalysts of change and peace builders.
Expanding the size of the market in Nabouwalu was on the agenda for the Nabouwalu Market Vendors Association representatives present especially so that it would cater for all the women vendors who utilize that space.
Women leaders also shared their experiences in finding alternative income to supplement and/or replace the income lost when COVID19 impacted jobs across the nation. This placed extra loads on the women who had to also manage their children, spouses, extended family and community needs.
“We acknowledge the crucial role that women leaders such as yourselves play as catalysts and agents of change and peace in your homes and communities. Particularly on the pivotal role you play in mobilizing and as first responders," says femLINK's Program Manager, Kele Gavidi, who presented on furthering women’s peace and security priorities agenda during humanitarian crisis.
Tawake
Forty five women were part of femLINK’s convening in Tawake, Vanua Levu. Participants included young women, women’s associations, clubs and networks with representation from 5 clubs of a total of 469 people. 107 households were represented with 7 new members joining the convening.
Women leaders had the opportunity to contribute their stories on their experiences around COVID19, its impacts on their role as community leaders, their families and how this affects their role as catalysts of change and peace builders.
Access to improved and clean drinking water is a necessity and the women leaders of Tawake and neighboring communities reiterated this out of concern for their families and communities.
The need for proper and improved roads were echoed by the women leaders especially when accessing services and supplies including food, postal and health care.
Expanding on access to health care the women leaders shared the need to extend the nursing station in Tawake because it caters for a large population in and around Udu point.
Radio productions from tthe Vanua Levu convenings will be available soon on femLINK's Soundcloud page.
The femLINKpacific team also travelled to the Western Division for this month's district convenings of the Rural Women Leaders Community Media Network.
femLINK's district convenings are supported through the #WeRise Coalition. The Coalition believes that diverse women can achieve transformative change when working together through a vibrant, coordinated and sustainable feminist movement.
The Coalition consists of the Fiji Women's Rights Movement, International Women's Development Agency - IWDA and femLINKpacific.