LABASA Market was literally a sea of purple as 120 women dressed in their bright purple bula wear and sari converged on the market area today to celebrate International Rural Women’s Day.
The day is set aside to celebrate and recognise the contribution of rural women in their communities and the nation as a whole.
Vendors danced and sang away amid sharing success stories.
Sainiana Tabualomani who has been a vendor for more than 10 years, said the day was a memorable one for her having being able to exchange experiences with her fellow vendors.
Ms Tabualomani said the little money she earned at her vegetable stall helped put food on the table for her family and loved ones.
For 42-year-old Ekari Rabici, her earnings from the fish parcels she sold at the market has enabled her eldest child to graduate this year with a diploma in teaching while she continues to support her Year 7 and Year 9 children from the same money.
Ms Rabici said like her counterparts, they were glad to know that their contributions to their communities were recognised.
Officiating at the celebration, chief guest Wainikiti Tunabuna told women they were an integral part of their communities and societies at large.
Ms Tunabuna said rural women contributed a large portion of the nation’s revenue from the various sundry businesses they operated.
