On Oct 23, 2008 will be the first time there will be a National Rural Women's Market (NRWM) that will display traditional handicraft and contemporary items from women from all over Fiji.
The initiative by the Ministry for Health, Women and Social Welfare for the observance of World Rural Women's Day held on the 15th of October, is in light of the roles that rural women play nationally and globally in ensuring food security and development of their households and communities which at most times goes unnoticed.
The national market launch to be held at the Civic Centre in Nadi beginning at 9:15am on Thursday October 23 will be for two days and will consist of handicraft demonstrations, marketing and sales of these.
The event will be officiated by the Minister for Health,Women and Social Welfare, Dr Jiko Luveni and the Director for Women, Dr Tokasa Leweni.
“Nadi was chosen as a location for the launch as we wanted to find a niche market for the rural women's handicraft in the tourism sector.
“We want to show the resorts and major retailers that they can source these items direct from the women in the rural areas.
“What we are doing is bringing women from the four Divisions, 22 from the North, 40 West , 9East and 40 Central and these women will bring the handicraft for the various women in their villages and settlements,” says Mr Frederick Elbourne, the Communications Officer with the Ministry.
Mr Elbourne added this initiative is also a means of empowering rural women, and finding a viable means of selling high quality crafts to a wider cross section of people.
“The use of substantive communication and information tools was used to attract women to be part of this launch,” Mr Elbourne said.
The success of this event over the two days could see it being held again.
Ministry of Information, Communication and Media Relations
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