MY reflections in this article are grounded in my work as a Program Officer at Women’s Fund Fiji, where I have had the opportunity to witness transformative shifts in attitudes, practices, and systems advancing gender equality and women’s rights at the community level.
When I think about the strength of women’s spaces, I think of Maria Tawake whose journey reminds us that these spaces are not simply about meetings or programmes, but about survival, healing, and transformation.
Maria, a retired schoolteacher from Taveuni, carried the heavy burden of illness after leaving her career.
When she first joined the Taveuni Empowerment Support Group, she was still in recovery, often arriving wrapped tightly to keep warm , her body fragile and her spirit weighed down. She wasn’t there to lead or to shine; she was there to be held by the presence of other women.
That is the beauty of these spaces: they allow us to arrive exactly as we are; weak, uncertain, covered up and still be embraced.
For Maria, the group became a sanctuary not only through conversations or activities, but through the environment itself: the warmth of solidarity and the unspoken understanding among women who know what it means to carry invisible burdens.
Over time, her recovery was not only physical but deeply emotional, as the support group gave her permission to shed the layers of illness and reclaim her sense of self.
Today, she sits among her sisters dressed in confidence, no longer defined by sickness. She now serves as President of the Taveuni Empowerment Support Group, leading with compassion and strength.
Her story is proof of what feminist spaces achieve: they restore dignity by centring women’s lived experiences, nurture resilience through collective care, and build leadership by transforming survivors into leaders.
Maria’s journey reminds us that women’s gathering spaces are lifelines, places where healing happens, silence is broken, and women rise together. Reflecting on her story is a call to honour and protect these spaces, because when women gather, they don’t just share stories, they create futures.
About TEWSG
The Taveuni Empowerment Support Group is a women–led community group based on Taveuni that provides a safe and supportive space for women to connect, share experiences, and support one another.
Through collective dialogue, mutual care, and community–based activities, the group works to strengthen women’s confidence, wellbeing, and leadership. At its core, the group fosters solidarity and empowerment by centring women’s lived experiences and encouraging collective growth and resilience.
TEWSG President Maria Tawake. Picture: SUPPLIED
Kameli Tikoitoga. Picture: SUPPLIED
