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Makitarena Rewariwa is a 45-year-old widow from Nasautoka village in Wainibuka. Her life took an unexpected turn during the pandemic, leading her to discover new opportunities and change her future.
Makitarena is a beneficiary of the Market for Change (M4C) project, which aims to economically empower women market vendors and promote gender equality in Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Samoa. This multi-stakeholder project provides financial literacy training that connects vendors and farmers with essential service providers. This information sharing, awareness raising, and networking opportunities have the potential to improve the livelihoods of market vendors and their families.
From Tonga to Fiji: A journey of resilience
Makitarena worked in Tonga for five years before returning to Fiji. Her dream was to move to Australia in search of greener pastures. However, her destiny had other plans. The pandemic interrupted her travel plans and left her stranded.
However, she decided to find a way to earn money locally to support her family.
A new beginning in the market
Makitarena joins the bustling market in Votu Levu, Nadi, selling fresh produce such as root crops, vegetables and fruit. What started as a modest business selling pineapples quickly grew into a thriving business. Unlike his previous job where he received a bi-weekly salary, Makitarena now earns money every day at Namaka’s market.
Impact of UNDP’s Money Mind Training
Recently, Makita Lena had the opportunity to participate in Money Mind Training. This was a transformative experience for her. Money Minded is a flexible adult financial education program that builds the knowledge, confidence and skills to enable people to make informed decisions and manage their money. This is Her ANZ’s flagship program to improve the economic well-being of local communities and supports Her ANZ’s purpose of shaping a world where people and communities thrive.
This was Makitarena’s first experience with such a program. During her training, she gained valuable insight into the power of self-advocacy, budgeting, money management, and visualization through vision boards. It is truly inspiring to hear about her dedication and involvement in the M4C project. She sees this as an opportunity because training is available within the market space and she doesn’t have to travel far to attend training.
Set goals and empower your family
Ms. Makita Lena The market business not only supports their daily necessities but also contributes to the education of their grandchildren. She said that participating in the M4C initiative has allowed her to actively engage with other market vendors. This is also 6-month virtual mentoring program that further away added to her Personal growth and development.
Armed with her newfound knowledge, Makitarena is determined to build a better future for herself and her loved ones. She plans to sit down with her family and discuss her vision for herself. The companies will work together to identify areas where costs can be reduced and ensure financial stability.
A dream beyond the market stall
Makitarena’s aspirations extend beyond market stalls. She dreams of owning her own boutique, her shop, where she can showcase her passion for design. However, securing the necessary capital remains a challenge. Through Money Minded training sessions, she was able to learn new tools to grow her business and turn her dreams into reality. Setting up a vision board was one of her new tools so far. she, and She is committed to overcoming obstacles and turning dreams into reality.
A call for more opportunities
As Makitarena continues her entrepreneurial journey, she hopes to see similar training programs introduced in the market. These efforts empower individuals like her and provide them with the tools they need to succeed in an ever-changing world.
The M4C project is being implemented in partnership with UN Women and UNDP, with support from the governments of Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
For more information, please contact us below.
Vilisi Veibataki, Markets for Change Project Manager, Fiji UNDP Pacific Office | vilisi.veibataki@undp.org | +679 3227701
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