Providing a better life for your family is something everyone can achieve even if they do not have any formal education one just needs to work hard with perseverance and determination.
These were the words of Shalini Devi who has won the South Pacific Business Development’s Businesswoman of the year award.
Devi runs a successful yaqona business in Savusavu and she also supplies yaqona to people in Suva, Nadi and nearby villages in Savusavu.
The mother of two says that she started selling yaqona in Nadi in 2009 and in 2011 she followed her husband to Savusavu after having found work and better opportunities for their yaqona business in the North.
Devi says that with her business she is able to earn more than $600 a week adding that this has immensely helped her provide for her two sons in secondary school and her husband who finds employment doing odd jobs where possible.
Meanwhile Minster for Women Mereseini Vuniwaqa while officiating at the awards stressed that entrepreneurship development is a powerful and sustainable tool for women empowerment.
Winners:
Centre Of the Year Award was awarded to the women of Savunawai 1, Nadi, Centre Saver of the Year Award Winner was won by Wainimakutu, Namosi, New Centre of the Year Award Winner was Nukutubu, Rewa, Vasemaca Aditukana of Northland Korovou won the Centre Chief of the Year Award.
Kanisia Rokosevuga of Waikete was awarded the Centre Secretary of the Year, Financial Education Facilitator of the Year Award Winner was won by Akesa Ligalevu of Waikete, while Saver of the Year Award was won by Sisilia Bose Mcgoon of Vaileka, Rakiraki.
