AS the nation gathers to celebrate Christmas, the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) hopes for a more peaceful and united Fiji “which should begin from the heart of every home”.
FCOSS executive director Vani Catanasiga described this festive season as one of hope, family, and new beginnings.
“This Christmas, FCOSS shares the recent National Dialogue on Pathways to Peace as a gift of hope and a concrete plan for our nation’s future,” she said.
“In a time defined by togetherness, the statement’s core message that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ is more relevant than ever.
“It calls on all of us to embrace our collective responsibility to build a nation where every family is supported, every leader governs with integrity, and every citizen has the opportunity to thrive.”
Ms Catanasiga said during the dialogue, they consistently heard that weak family structures were a primary driver of societal problems, including youth delinquency, crime, and a loss of social values.
“The family, our first school is under unprecedented strain from economic pressures, a breakdown in communication, and a weakening of its moral and spiritual foundations.
“A widespread distrust in both traditional and modern leadership structures is fuelling community disengagement.
“But let this Christmas be the moment we commit to building a Fiji where peace truly begins at home.”
