The prayers of the Kioa Women’s Group yesterday was answered after the group received a grant amounting to $30,000 from the Fiji Women’s Fund.
Speaking to this newspaper during the event, organisation’s representative Mesela Vave highlighted that the group was from Balia Village on the island which consisted of about 72 households.
Ms Vave said this was the first time the group was receiving the grant from the fund.
“We are very thankful to the fund for this grant assistance,” Ms Vave said.
“With this grant, the group will be able help the women in the village with the establishment of a small canteen.
“We also wanted a small guest house at the village but we could not afford to make it.”
She added the group’s future plan was to start the business of producing virgin coconut oil and making of handicrafts.
She also highlighted that the women wanted to start this on the island and then find a market to take their products and sell.
