EARNING an income from a new project has not been a challenge but a blessing for villagers of Lavena on Taveuni.
Initiated by the Rotary Club of Taveuni, two groups have been set up on the island to start the bone carving project under the guidance of New Zealand carver Hob Thompson.
The project has been labelled a totally Taveuni product with bones brought in from the Tarte family farm in Vuna, cleaned and prepared by the team at Raikivi in Matei, and carved by the groups at Lavena and Lovonivonu.
Rotary club executive Geoff Amos said the project was introduced after Mr Thompson offered his services to help the people on the island.
“So we took it on from there and a training was done with the two groups and they have started carving right away with different kinds of ornaments from sea creatures to traditional items,” Mr Amos said.
“It is basically the idea to help villagers earn an income when they get older, and can’t go and plant dalo and do all the heavy stuff in the farm.
“This bone carving is totally a Taveuni product. We use our own bones and at the moment, getting these carvers up and going.
“The idea is to raise enough money at the moment to start a fund for us to buy the items from the carvers, and when we have tourist ships, then we will sell when there is an opportunity to sell.”
Mr Amos said they were also setting up a co-operative with the carvers where the money collected would be kept.
“So if we sold a bone carving for $50, then $5 goes to the village school, $5 to the church and $5 to the community obligation so the carver gets $35.
“But we might sell the product for $60 and use $10 to cover for cost of machines they use. We really want to help out the villagers and they have got on very well with the carving business. We will involve our students on the island too beginning with Niusawa and Tutu Training Centre as the vacation centre.”
