In a world often plagued by uncertainty and strife, individuals such as Laisa Salavuki Butuivalu remind us of the profound impact that a single act of kindness can have.
Originally from Naselai in Tailevu with maternal ties to Lawaki, Namena, Tailevu, the 32-year-old embodies resilience, compassion and a relentless spirit for service, dedicating her life to empowering women through volunteer work.
The Sila Central High School alumnus, who recently married her partner of five years, finds time for her passion project, Empowering Women Fiji (EW-Fiji), amid family commitments and the hustle and bustle of being a reservation and traffic department manager at the Northern Air domestic airline.
EW-Fiji emerged from a heartfelt conversation between Ms Butuivalu and her sister, Isabela, during the throes of COVID-19. It began as a simple social media group but evolved into a dynamic volunteer group with a mission to empower individuals irrespective of age, gender or background.
“When we started off, our main target group was women because it was like a personal experience for me and Isabela,” says Ms Butuivalu. “We would have more than just one female friend messaging us and sharing with us their life experiences, whether good or bad, and they just needed someone to talk to.
“As we journeyed along this path of reaching out to help people, we’ve come to realise that women are not the only ones that need help, but men and children too.
“So we started reaching out to everyone that needed help, whether it be in the form of a meal, a new-born baby pack, a fortnight worth of grocery shopping, or just donating clothes or helping out with other volunteers to fulfill our purpose.”
Ms Butuivalu says the group has also grown from eight volunteers to 20 volunteers today, “and that is quite an achievement for us because it really is a challenge to invite people to be part of a volunteer group that is still in a growing phase”.
She says the work of EW-Fiji is more than a volunteer effort— it’s a calling, a labour of love that brings immeasurable joy and fulfilment.
“When I see that satisfactory smile on people’s faces knowing that we contributed towards that happy smile, I get many mixed emotions and remind myself that we are doing a good job and we’ll continue to do better.”
Supported wholeheartedly by her father and guided by the memory of her late mother, Ms Butuivalu remains committed to her vision of a more compassionate and equitable society. The group has also received donations from other organisations, collaborators and kind donations from social media followers. “We are really grateful for that opportunity and for the donations we always receive from our followers.
“They have been a contributing factor to all of our successful projects.”
Looking to the future, Ms Butuivalu envisions EW-Fiji not just as an advocate for women’s empowerment but as a force for positive change in the community. As she continues her journey of service and self-discovery, her message to young women pulsates with wisdom and hope.
“No matter what situation you may find yourself in, do not look down on yourself and do not ever give up.
“Always let God lead and trust in his timing and his perfect plan for you. You will never be disappointed.
“If you believe you have a calling for volunteerism, then come work with us, you may not get paid for the volunteer work that we do, but God sees it all, and He pays in due time.”
With unwavering faith and boundless compassion, Ms Butuivalu is a testament to the enduring spirit of kindness and resilience in Fiji.
