|
This Months Issue
Advertisement
|
FRIEND
For a five-year-old organisation, FRIEND is certainly an overachiever. The Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises ‘N’ Development was the brainchild of Sashi Kiran, a former social worker who wanted to do something that could directly benefit women and society’s other marginalised people. FRIEND, based in Lautoka, together with various community groups, works to reduce poverty, create income generation programs, and to help empower individuals and their communities, both socially and economically. The organisation has introduced a system that has single-handedly given women, ex-prisoners, the deaf, and youth a chance to earn money through skills they already have. The organisation, is particularly focussed on poverty alleviation and creating gender equity in rural and underserved communities in Fiji. It’s trademarked Friend's Fiji Style products include chutneys, pickles, jams, handmade cards, and handicrafts. FRIEND earned a visit from Prince Charles when he came to Fiji in 2005 and in its short life has several awards – both local and international – under its belt. In May 2007, FRIEND won the Nelson Mandela Graça Machel Award for Innovation from CIVICUS, the World Alliance for Civil Participation, for its youth and dead card project. It also won the Fiji Association of Social Workers NGO of the Year award in late 2007. 
|
