CAPTION: Women commemorate World Women’s Day with lighting candles. Photo: SUPPLIED.
By JOSEPHINE NAVULA
Newly formed NGO, Stay Connected- Fiji (SCFL) held a workshop on disaster risk and awareness for the women of Nasota settlement in Lautoka Friday last week.
SCFL Managing Director, Dorinda Work said the Punjas sponsored workshop encouraged participants to highlight pertinent disaster risks that face the community and come up with solutions and better practices for disaster preparedness.
“The workshop concluded with the appointment of a 9-member Disaster Committee for Nasoata, of which 5 are women. Participants were given Certificates of Attendance and were encouraged to implement the knowledge gained from the workshop in their community,” she said.
On Saturday, SCFL staff and group of youth volunteers from Wainikasoso Methodist Youth Group worked together with the Nasoata community to clean the shoreline of debris.
“After clearing of debris, rows of old tyres were laid along the beach to provide some resistance to soil erosion whilst allowing sand to build up over time,” Work said.
She said the tyres were given by General Machinery Hire and Williams & Goslings and both companies have agreed to maintain a regular supply of tyres to the community.
“The tyres also act as a buffer during high tides and waves in rainy weather,” she said.
“Our mission is to partner with communities and stakeholders to build sustainable livelihoods and our programs include Community Governance Programs, Financial Literacy and Basic Business Skills Training.
“We are thankful to the people who have made the projects we have undertaken so far a successful one.
“We are thankful to General Machinery Hire, Williams & Goslings and Punjas for partnering with SCFL in this project and we look forward to partnering with other stakeholders who would be willing to assist in developing communities in Lautoka and surrounding areas.
“We are also grateful to Lautoka City Council for supplying garbage bags and gloves for the cleanup campaign at Nasoata,” Work concluded.