Improvisation In The Islands

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31124, 29 July 1966, Page 2

Improvisation In The Islands

Women in the South Pacific islands are just as anxious as women in other parts of the world to improve their homes and kitchens.

But in many cas«s they lack the money to buy equipment which the New Zealand housewife considers essential, so the ability to improvise is a necessary skill.

The South Pacific Commis•ion, under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, is helping them to develop this skill. In Suva it has set up the Community Education Training Centre, To this centre eome girls from all parts of the South Pacific. The students on the current economies for community work—learn basic nutrition and woodwork

gmopg other subjects and return to their home islands to pass on their knowledge to women and community leaders. Recently, they have just spent a fortnight learning to improvise furniture from packing crates and scrap timber, using tools provided by the National Council of Women. The girls were shown how to make meat safes, desks and

storage shelves. In addition they also made two-tier bunks, a child’s cot, a rocker and a moveable screen. Right—Top: Two students at work in the centre’s kitchen, for which they helped build •helves and benches. This type of kitehen is commop to village homes throughout the islands. Bottom: An improvised office, with desks and filing shelves made by students. Below: Two students, equipped with visual aids, give a lecture and demonstration on nutrition to a group from a women’s cluh-