Page 17 - Fiji Traveller Issue 4

CASH ON THE MAT

The Rise Beyond the Reef story

By Ariela Zibiah work with is a prerequisite that most development practitioners
overlook.”
Salanieta Utobota, and her husband can plan for their children Rise Beyond the Reef absorbs artisans’ costs such as
to attend boarding schools and complete university education leadership stipends, transport costs, materials, etc. which has
confidently, while sitting in their Bukuya home in the highlands of further strengthened its relationship with some 500 artisans
western Viti Levu. That they are able to plan for all four children’s and their 1800 dependents. Doing this right from the start has
education without having to leave home is enormously satisfying, assured the effectiveness of the producer groups.
she says. Salanieta began her journey with Rise Beyond the Reef in
When Salanieta married Solomoni some 20 years ago, their 2014, and she has worked with them ever since. She is part of
only source of cash was from taking any surplus from their a team that creates lovely ‘marama’ soft dolls. “We started from
subsistence farm down to the market on Thursdays or Fridays. nothing, but we have bought more sewing machines. If someone
She would stay at the market until Saturday, or until everything is late, we will share the load, so everyone submits and gets paid
was sold. together. There are some new women who want to join us, the
That changed with an introduction to Rise Beyond the Reef. rest of us help train them, and if they’re a little bit slow, we help,”
Rise Beyond the Reef is a well-known brand in Fiji. Its Salanieta says.
distinctively printed homewares, woven goods, dolls, jewelry “We have never worked with any other organisation or
and other products are found in the country’s largest hotels, company: we know Rise’ processes, we know what they want,
retailers and gift shops, and in the kitchens and homes of many and we want all our dolls to be accepted by the quality controller,
locals. It has a thriving online business and is a favourite of large so we all work together to not only meet our orders, but with the
conference organisers, who often order their stylish and useful highest quality.”
handmade tote bags as conference packs. Another collaborator, Alesi Sauvina in Nanuku speaks of how
But Rise Beyond the Reef is much more than what you see in good it feels to see themselves and other women artisans on
stores and hotel meeting rooms. the covers of magazines, in pamphlets, and on the Rise Beyond
Salanieta remembers fondly the first-time co-founders, Janet the Reef website with their “cakacaka ni liga” (hand crafted
and Semi Lotawa arrived in her village. What struck her is how products).
the couple and their team “entered each and every house and “I did not finish school, but this project made me realise that
asked us questions about everyday life, including what we, the whatever I can do with my hands, I can make a living out of it. I
women, were good at, the challenges we faced.” don’t have to be in one office for eight hours and working from
Salanieta’s story is just one of the hundreds of artisans that home means I get to be here for my children,” Alesi says.
the Rise Beyond the Reef project works with throughout rural The income that women such as Alesi and Salanieta earn as
Viti Levu and some coastal areas in Vanua Levu, including Kia creatives mean they are able to contribute to decision-making in
Island women, who trace progeny to Tuvalu. their households.
Alesi’s husband is a bus driver, however, this work depends
Listening then doing largely on the condition of the roads in the hills. Being able
As Salanieta relates, establishing Rise Beyond the Reef to earn as much as $700 to $1000 per submission (of sewn
involved talking with women about their creative talents. Women products) means that Alesi can cover the education costs of her
who said they could sew were asked to submit something they three children (one in secondary school and two younger ones
had made. For the organisation, this process was about ensuring in upper secondary school), and the costs of meeting traditional
that their plans would be truly informed by the community, or church obligations.
including the women. “My family lived with my parents but with this project, we were
Rise co-founder, Janet Lotawa recently wrote: “Lived actually able to budget for a place and now we have our own
economic empowerment for women we work alongside, and home.”
their communities, requires longer timeframes for programming
that is informed by progress on the ground. Transformational A partnership that works
change requires beginnings that are rooted in and nurtured by In any movement, in any village, in any community, there is
communities we work with. Investing time with those we seek to always an existing table. It is likely that there were more than

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