A new chapter has begun in Ba, where women are using rugby not just to compete, but to create change.
The Yakete Women’s Rugby Team has launched its partnership with the international Play for Equity Fund, with the backing of the Ba Rugby Union and community leaders.
The soft launch took place at Vinod Patel Park in Ba and marks the beginning of a series of programmes aimed at promoting inclusivity and empowering women and girls through sport.
This was stated in a release yesterday.
Based in the hills of Ba Province, the Yakete Women’s Rugby team is using the sport to push through social barriers and create more space for women to grow.
With backing from the Play for Equity Fund, the team will running community sports activities and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) training in the months ahead.
Yakete Women’s Rugby Team coordinator Karalaini Rokocoko said, “Rugby is more than just a game for us,”
“It’s a platform for empowering women, building confidence and driving progress in our villages.”
“We are excited to work with the Play for Equity Fund, and we are especially grateful to the Ba Rugby Union for their unwavering support in ensuring every girl and woman in our community has the chance to play, lead, and succeed.”
Rokocoko said the Ba Rugby Union’s support had reached deep into rural communities.
“Ba Rugby’s commitment to advancing women’s rugby can be seen not only in Yakete but throughout the upper mountain, rural and remote communities of Ba Province,” she said.
“Through BRU’s leadership, more women and girls are being introduced to the sport, breaking down barriers and building a stronger rugby community for all.”
The Play for Equity Fund is a global effort that supports grassroots sports teams in promoting gender justice, unity and social impact.
Yakete’s involvement now sets an example for others across Fiji and the Pacific.
