A JOINT partnership between Government, trustees of the Golden Age Home in Natabua, Lautoka, and NGO Soroptimist International will culminate in the construction of a $160,000 shelter for domestic violence victims.
The announcement was made in Lautoka yesterday after a memorandum of understanding was signed by the three parties. Board of trustees member Rajneesh Charan said they had agreed to provide land for the project.
“This will help to build a shelter for women who are displaced from their homes and single mothers,” she said.
The project would be carried out by Soroptimist International of Fiji after approval from the parent body was granted nearly two years ago.
NGO representative and senior member Dr Maria Doton said the project was a long time coming.
“This is a significant project because this will be the first shelter to cater for emergency housing of women who are victims of violence,” she said.
“We have other shelters in Fiji at the moment but not of this sort. At the moment, our victims go back to the home where it (domestic violence) happens.”
Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa said they were appreciative of the Golden Age Home trustees for allocating land for the project.
