Domestic violence survivor Salata Laqere graduated with a certificate in culinary arts at the Makoi Women’s Vocational Training Centre yesterday.
The daughter of a Bua farmer said it was a huge achievement for her personally, after suffering physical and verbal abuse at the hands of her former husband and his family for six years. Ms Laqere, a mother of two, said she was working part-time at a restaurant when she came to know about the training centre three months ago.
“I heard it provided training for underprivileged women,” the 25-year-old Serea villager said.
“Today (yesterday) I am graduating and so grateful to be part of the centre.
“My kids, a six-year-old girl and five-year-old boy are with their father and I always get depressed when I think about them.”
She said she hoped to secure employment to financially support her family. Officiating at the event, Halabe Investment Pty managing director Mark Halabe encouraged the women graduates to financially sustain themselves after graduating.
“Please consider having your own business,” he said. “My two daughters developed their online business in Australia and I’m learning from them.
“So I’m encouraging all those who graduated today, develop your own ideas, use your skills and don’t give up, don’t wait.”
Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Minister Rosy Akbar said the training centre was a project which allowed women to rise out of poverty and provide basic needs for their families. The centre graduated 19 women with certificates in sewing and 18 women with certificates in culinary arts.
