Fijian Community Centre

Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 10, 10 November 1977, Page 8

Fijian Community Centre

CORSO is sending $7,700 to Navoci Village for use in the development of a new community centre which will house a kindergarten, a women’s training centre and a playground. The women’s centre will incorporate such activities as nutrition training programmes using locally grown fruits and vegetables, poultry, pork, etc., in the preparation of more attractive and balanced meals. There will also be help with handcraft classes, and assistance in the marketing of these through the centre to tourists and visitors. Music and dancing in the traditional manner will be held at the centre.

"With the emphasis on women’s needs and community requirements, this new centre will help a Fijian community to help themselves and to elevate the place of local Fijian occupations rather than push them into urbanisation and seeking new jobs in tourist industries," said Toby Truell, CORSO General Secretary .speaking at CORSO’s latest project in NAVOCI, near Nadi. Fiji. For the past few years, people in this region have been increasingly employed in the tourist trade, being so near to the Nadi Airport, and hotel complexes. But this type of employment has meant a move from the rural villages and a rundown of village production. This project will assist in greater production of traditional horticulture, crafts and resources, and prevent urbanisation by making rural life more meaningful for all age-groups.