Every girl grows up having a dream. Some dream of being lawyers, doctors, pilots and engineers. For Paulini Meli her dream was to sew. Little did she know, this would one day pave the way for bigger things.

After completing her Year 12 studies at Vashist Muni College in Navua, sewing, as vocation appealed naturally to her.

“Even though I passed my Year 12 examination in 2021, the idea of pursuing Year 13 did not sit well with me,” she said.

All she wanted to do was to “enhance my passion and natural talents.”

Her interest grew in 2019 when she accompanied her mum to pick up kalavata (matching long skirt and top worn by women) orders from her tailor friend.

She was surprised to find out that it cost $300.

“I asked mum about the prospects of sewing and she told me that I could be a home economics teacher, a fashion designer or an entrepreneur.

“So I used my grandmother’s sewing machine to patch everyday clothes and sew curtains edges.”

Ms Meli said she also attended a baking course during her school break. “I attended Phil Waqanitoga’s baking course.

“I took small cake orders for the family and for mum’s workmates. This was when I was in Year 12…”

The Nanoko villager from Navatusila in Navosa said the COVID-19 pandemic taught her to invest in lifelong skills that would allow her to earn money from home.

She was moved by hardships faced by families whose members received reduced work hours, lay-offs and job losses. So she did her best to enroll in a sewing course.

“I checked at the Robertson Road Vocational Centre but was told that it was closed.

“Then I came across the Makoi Women’s Vocational Training Centre Facebook page and decided to give it a try. In March last year, when she did not get a call to join the second batch, she was a bit downhearted.

“So I attended a two-week textile and jewellery making workshop with Rosie Emberson Semisi. As luck would have it, on the last week of the course, she received a call for an interview. She had just turned 18. “I am thankful that I was finally offered a place at MWVTC.”

“I began in May 2022 with an eight-week sewing course and now I’ve attained my Advance Sewing Course last month.”

Ms Meli is not resting on her laurels and is already looking for opportunities to learn more and improve her sewing skills.

“When I joined the Makoi Women’s Training Centre, I was a bit shy because I was among matured ladies but their motherly love and determination to still learn at their age was inspired me. The 18-year-old hopes to become an entrepreneur in the not too distant future.