SMALL but focused initiatives can produce significant positive impacts.
For rural communities, incremental changes can address issues like access to resources, economic opportunities, and community engagement. These initiatives can be tailored to the needs of the community and can serve as the basis of larger, more sustainable change.
This is why the difficulties of living in the interior of Ba have never stopped a group of women from improving their community.
The women of Waikubukubu from the district of Savatu in the province of Ba have started working on a small initiative they hope will contribute positively to village development in the future.
One of their top priorities is completing their resource centre.
The women group have gone out of their way to fund minor village projects and provide resources for the centre.
One of the projects the women have crossed off their to-do list is the refurbishment of the village hall. The women helped paint, provide rugs, curtains and doormats.
The ladies even got out a new cabinet to store their kitchenware and cutleries, which they hire out during special village events.
Waikubukubu Village women’s group president, Miliakere Naisola said instead of buying a cabinet from town they paid carpenters in the village to build the cabinets for them.
“Instead of spending the money we raised, we paid carpenters to build our cabinet,” she said.
“Not only did we get a good cabinet, we also were able to save money and provide members of the village with a little financial support. Our initiative is rather small but we hope to continue one step at a time. We have to start somewhere.”
She said the women of Waikubukubu have also been able to buy a few items for their resource centre.
“We have two big pots that the group often hire out to those who want to use them and what little cash we get from that is placed back into the group’s funds for things we might need in the future.
“We hope to improve a few things, like getting our canteen running again. The canteen hasn’t been in operation for a while, but we hope to focus on that next.
The women group hopes to also improve their resource centre’s cooking facility and lavatory.
“Since the opening of the Nadarivatu Forest Park, we have been thinking of improving these facilities to cater for guests who might visit us because of the park.
“We hope to provide visitors with a memorable and good experience. We also want them to use our resource centre and its facilities.
“Visitors can even have a tour of the village and when they do, we the women of Waikubukubu would provide them with the proper facilities to use.”
The women engage in group activities like handicraft work and cooking lessons.
“These lessons allow the women to come together, share their experience and get to know each other better.
“Every Mondays we meet in the morning to do our group activities. After the activities are done, we disperse so we can carry out other responsibilities at home and in the village.”
She said the women of Waikubukubu hoped to attend training workshops on sewing, financial literacy, cooking or handicraft.
“We hope that some form of training can be offered to us since we live inland. Training that can help us contribute positively to our homes and to our village.”
The initiative by the women of Waikubukubu, though still a work in progress, shows that rural communities have the capacity to uplift their living conditions and standards, if they have the will and determination to help themselves.
Achieving significant results cannot happen in an instance, it takes time, effort, and persistence. But with the calibre of drive possessed by Ivamere and Miliakere, it would only be a matter of time, when Waikubukubu realises its true potential.
Miliakere Naisola, left, with Ivamere Natarina inside the Waikubukubu women’s resource centre. Picture: ANA MADIGIBULI
1. The cabinet for the resource centre that was built by village carpenters. Picture: ANA MADIGIBULI
The women group hope to get their closed canteen up and running again. Picture: ANA MADIGIBULI
The women refurbished the village hall with a coat of fresh paint and new curtains, rugs and doormats. Picture: ANA MADIGIBULI
2. The women hope to renovate their resource centre kitchen and lavatory for future use. Picture: ANA MADIGIBULI
