KADAVU native Masi Dave is pretty set in her ways. She’s determined to make a difference in many ways.
At 27, Ms Dave runs a business in an industry that brims with men.
She’s determined to be an inspiration for women.
Her Nadi-based building contractor company employs a group of women who are not too fussy about getting themselves dirty.
She stands out as part of a growing number of women who are making great strides in male-dominated industries.
Ms Dave believes there is a need for a change in mind-sets.
She wants to change the perception that construction work is a male-only profession because “a woman can do it better”.
Women, she said, were good for the industry because they were extraordinarily intelligent, organised, dedicated and experienced After getting her trade certificate “about four years ago”,
Ms Dave started Masi’s Interior and Exterior Designing and Home Furnishings in 2015.
“People are surprised to see a woman leading the team and it inspires me to work harder.
I let my work do the talking,” she said.
Just last weekend, we announced our new general manager Christine Lyons who is set to take over from Hank Arts in April 2019.
Ms Lyons takes over a company that has a proud 149 year history.
Ms Dave and Ms Lyons stand out as testimony of the strength and resilience of Fijian women, and their emergence as a powerful presence in our nation.
In keeping with that line of thought, 17-year-old Abigail Aguilar believes girls can become what they aspire to be in life.
Last Saturday, the Year 13 student was part of a career workshop which focused on women’s representation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The workshop was conducted as part of the 16 days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, with the theme “End Gender-Based Violence in the World of Work”.
The 16-day long global campaign is an event commemorated annually to shed light on all forms of violence against women in Fiji and around the world.
The Fiji Times joins in the campaign to encourage people to be aware of gender-based violence.
But we all must accept the fact that there has to be a collective effort to make a difference.
That means every Fijian appreciating the importance of addressing gender-based violence.
Being aware is only the first step.
The next is to appreciate and understand the impact of violence on the lives of affected people, and making an effort to change the mind-set, and to make a difference.
Let’s work together on this.
It does not have to be contained to the earmarked period annually.
