AT 24, Raijeli Naceva is learning that motherhood does not have to mean putting her own dreams on hold.
For the young mother from Nausori Highland in Namataku, Navosa, every short course is another opportunity to learn something new and build a future in the village.
Raijeli, who has maternal links to the area, grew up in a farming family.
Her parents are farmers, and she is the eldest of six children, with her younger siblings still attending school.
Today, she and her husband, who is also from Nausori Highland, are raising their two-year-old daughter while running a small yaqona farm.
“You know life in the village – it’s mainly chores for us women,” Raijeli said.
For her family, yaqona farming is an important source of livelihood, but Raijeli is also looking beyond the farm, using short courses to broaden her skills and understanding.
She attended Ratu Nalewavada Public School in Nausori Highlands before continuing at Nadi Sangam College from Form 3 to Form 6.
She completed Form 7 at Ratu Navula College before pursuing a Certificate III in Age Care and Community Care.
The course changed how she viewed caring for elderly family members.
“What I learned in age care has broadened my understanding of how to take care of elderly in the family,” she said.
One lesson that stayed with her was the importance of food.
Raijeli learned that what elderly people eat can have a significant impact on their health, particularly when they continue eating foods they have been advised to avoid by the hospital.
She responded by reducing those foods and introducing healthier alternatives available in the village.
Now, her latest learning experience has opened another possibility.
Raijeli took part in tie-dye training, an experience she enjoyed.
“I liked that I was part of it,” she said.
Her goal is to start a small tie-dye business in the village, where she sees a demand for the products.
For Raijeli, learning is becoming part of everyday life alongside motherhood, farming and village responsibilities.
The tie-dye training was part of the buildup to the Navosa Youth Festival held last week.
