Sixty women in the Western Division graduated from Lifebread’s Stay Connected Foundation (LSCF) Fiji’s capacity-building program on Friday.

LSCF Fiji has been in operation since 2015 with a vision of “giving hope and empowerment to widows and women from rural communities and informal settlements in Fiji, by helping them acquire the necessary education and skills to build sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families”.

The mission has been to provide empowerment training programs with the help of the Government, donors and community participation to equip these women with the necessary skills and knowledge to enable them to find meaningful employment or start small business projects.

Officiating at the event, Assistant Minister for Women Sashi Kiran said the journey of empowerment was one of perseverance, determination and resilience.

“Today, as we gather to honour these incredible women, we also recognise the invaluable role the Almanah Hope Centre plays in transforming lives and communities,” she said.

“However, our work is far from over. As we celebrate the achievements of these sixty women, we must also look towards the future and ask ourselves, how we can further strengthen and expand the services of the Almanah Hope Centre.

“How can we better support women in acquiring the education and skills needed to thrive in today’s rapidly changing world?

“How can we ensure that no woman is left behind?”

Ms Kiran urged the participants to engage in meaningful dialogue and exchange ideas on how they could continue to advance the mission of Lifebread Foundation Fiji.