In the early 1980s, Lautoka-based Sailosi Tawake Vesikula dedicated his life to helping unemployed youths in the Western Division.
According to an article published by The Fiji Times on March 5, 1984, Mr Vesikula found jobs for youths that were roaming the streets.
After leaving his teaching career and taking on the role of development officer in the West for the Christian Youth Development Association, Mr Vesikula developed an initiative that became a lifeline for a total of 33 unemployed young men.
Based at his house in Vunato, one of the projects under the initiative included practical work where the boys constructed cement toilet slabs and smokeless stoves. The divisional health office in Lautoka would place orders for the slabs and stoves which the boys would construct for $20 each.
Other projects included buying cockerels from Western Hatcheries Ltd and reselling them to customers from Tavua to Nadi, collecting and reselling used bottles and even collecting sawdust from Singh Enterprises and Royal Transport to distribute to poultry farmers.
“The companies are happy that we clean their compounds for them,” Mr Vesikula said.
The boys were required to pay an annual membership fee of $2 which was paid through their earnings from the projects.
“How much the boys earn depends on what we sell but roughly it could be around $10 a week.”
Unlike other youth groups, Mr Vesikula said the association was different from other similar organisations that would usually pool funds for the group but rather focused on individual development.
“My job is to find jobs in different companies for them and to create projects in which they can work.
“So when the youths come and work, the money does not go to the association, but they earn this for themselves.”
His long-term plan included expanding the initiative to projects such as poultry and cattle farming.
However, he said delays between the Native Land Trust Board and landowners were a constant challenge.
His initiative blended spiritual growth and practical skills where they were taught discipline alongside construction skills.
Besides his volunteer work with the association, Mr Vesikula supported himself through his job which was delivering cane furniture around Viti Levu for a Lautoka company.
