The Nakelo Assemblies of God (AOG) Women’s Club is using the National Women’s Expo as a platform to advocate for the rights of women and children in rural communities across the country.
The expo event is organised by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation and is seeing the participating of more than 400 women’s group from around the country showcasing a wide range of products to the public.
Sulueti Roqoli, a member of the club, said the women have played an active role in advocating social issues in their village.
“Our group has more than 20 members who are involved in various activities such as sewing, advocacy work and selling products made from natural products such as recycled wrappers and jewellery,” Roqoli said.
Roqoli added that the group does community outreach to the elderly in the village, raises awareness on child protection, violence against women and children, awareness on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and share training knowledge in the community.
“We have a retired nurse in the village that assists us in raising awareness on NCDs. Our group have also gone through trainings through FemLink Pacific in Nausori and financial literacy trainings through Ministry of Women.”
The women have ventured into income-generation through handicrafts, pot plants, sewing and jewellery to improve their standard of living.
Roqoli commended Government’s efforts in creating opportunities for women and providing avenues for them to market their products.
MINFO