Manaini's story, Fiji
Life was hard for Manaini and her children living in rural Fiji. With the support from Caritas Australia’s partner, FRIEND, she learnt food processing and gardening skills, improving nutrition and creating new income opportunities to support her children’s education.
Manaini outside her kiosk. Photo: Caritas Australia
Manaini with her family outside their home in Fiji. Photo: Caritas Australia
In remote northern Fiji, life has been a struggle for 44-year-old Manaini.
The family lived from what they grew, but meals were plain and often lacked nutrition. Store food was too expensive. At night, the village was in darkness, leaving children and the elderly unsafe.
Almost one quarter of Fiji’s population live in poverty, and rates are higher in rural villages. Any extra income can mean the difference between children completing school, being able to buy medicine, or simply managing daily costs. This is what poverty looks like in rural Fiji – every dollar counts.
The things I worry about the most is my kids’ education. The requirements that need to be met are hard for me to achieve with my daily income.
Compounding this, communities across Fiji are facing a health crisis.
Many families like Manaini's have to resort to buying high calorie food for survival, at the cost of their long-term health. This shift away from traditional diets, once rich in fresh fish, root vegetables, and fruit, has contributed to a drastic rise in preventable health issues, particularly among low-income communities.
Diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and heart disease are now common. Four out of five deaths in Fiji are caused by these life-threatening diseases. Every eight hours, three people lose a limb to diabetes.
Thanks to your support, everything began to change for Manaini and her family. With the help of local partner, FRIEND (Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development), Manaini joined training in food processing. She learnt how to use leftovers from crops like cassava, taro and breadfruit to make flour. She now makes roti and pancakes at home instead of buying expensive flour from the supermarket. This means healthier meals and big savings.
Manaini taking part in food processing activities with members of her community in Fiji. Photo: Caritas Australia
Manaini with members of her community in Fiji. Photo: Caritas Australia
Manaini received seeds from the project, enabling her to grow a greater variety of food in her garden. She also learnt to make organic fertiliser and pesticides from plants. With the women’s group she bakes cakes and pies from root crop flour to sell at a roadside stall.
The project also brought solar lights to the village. Before, nights were dark and unsafe. Families used kerosene lamps if they could afford the fuel. Now, Manaini’s children can play safely, and elderly people can walk safely at night.
“The project as a whole has a lot of value in my life as it totally changed the life of my family and even the community," Manaini said.
Along with your generous support, this program is also supported by the Australian Government, through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
Your donation can help
Solar lights have made a big difference in Manaini's community. Photo: Caritas Australia
Provide solar floodlights to help keep families safe and children secure at night
Manaini tending to her garden. Photo: Caritas Australia
Support a family to start their own backyard garden with seeds for fresh vegetables and fruit
Manaini with members of her community in Fiji. Photo: Caritas Australia
Train people in financial literacy, empowering them to build sustainable income
Along with your generous support, this program is supported by the Australian government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
