Page 27 - Fiji Traveller Issue 10

So how did it all start? Center, this is a truly a form of women’s economic empowerment.
“Fiji lags [behind] other Pacific nations in traditional making “We organise ourselves into tasks but are also able to multitask.
handicraft. Most mother-of-pearl handicraft in Fiji is imported. For example, I can carve something, but I can also assist with
There was a window for the University of Sunshine Coast USC sorting jewellery and attending to customers in our shop.
to effect change,” Claude said. “We are also able to budget how much we spend on materials
While USC provided most of the funding, Civa Fiji Pearls such as cords for the macramé jewellery, and we have our own
was involved in finding a site, choosing a village with the best bank account and M-PAiSA [mobile money transfer service] for
potential for development, organising the commissioning of the cashless payments,” Ema says.
equipment, and finding the first trainees. Can this story of a simple pearl farm and its community
“We were the boots on the ground. We provide the farmed support towards women, set a chain of events for others in the
shells to the centre. The Ministry of Fisheries is the government country and region as well? Perhaps, if it gets the right coverage,
monitoring agent who oversees all these aquaculture projects in platform and commitment.
Fiji and there are quite a few of those (spat collecting programs,
village driven Mabe farming, and handicraft).” Nasomo Ra Marama Handicrafts
For Emma and the women of Na Somo Ra Marama Handicraft

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