Media training for female empowerment | Fiji

Fiji is an archipelago of more than 300 islands located in the Pacific. It counts with almost a million inhabitants, and it is one of the most developed countries in the region Nevertheless, there are still destitute people who rely on the support of the Church to have better living conditions.

The Housing Assistance and Relief Trust (HART) was established in 1970 by the Fiji Council of Churches It is a charitable organization that was initially formed to provide shelter for the destitute in the country HART has communities and settlements across the two main islands (Viti Levu and Vanua Levu) and provides assistance to more than 850 families per year Its main focus is to help and empower women with children, and among its services, they offer care-giving services for the elderly and people with special needs and they educate the public on their responsibility towards their community members.

For the latter, HART partnered with SIGNIS, and with the subsidies obtained from the Pontifical Society of the Propagation of the Faith (PSPF), it was possible to train women and children about how to harness the power of communication.

Through a series of workshops and training sessions, the participants were able to learn about citizen journalism and gain media literacy, as they strengthened their knowledge of how to be critical, and analytical, and how to use the media creatively. In addition, the female participants were able to understand better their rights and power as women, and they’re now able to teach their children about the advantages and disadvantages of the media gadgets they are close to The children are now more confident in using computers and phones and know that those are tools that can assist them with their education

Projects like this, allow people to communicate effectively with others, access

Published on 25/10/21 relevant and updated information, discern between facts, opinions, truth, and sensationalism, and gain confidence to use media technology to raise visibility about their life and issues of concern

For Harieta Sumasafu, a community leader that participated in the Media Education programme, the training taught her “to be a confident woman ” , leading her to help others too Since the workshop, she has helped in organizing events that promote women ’ s talents and now confidently approaches organizations for different opportunities. Furthermore, Harieta shares: “I am so grateful for the workshop that I was privileged to participate in because it has taught me a lot about the media, how to be aware of the dangers and to take advantage of the opportunities that it offers us ”

Participant Mrs. Racheal Ligairi, shares that the media workshop that followed was “ very helpful but also challenging” She now understands the different modes of communication and believes that this workshop has broadened her mind

Whereas 74-old Vika wanted to learn something new even if she felt limited because she did not know much about the “ new equipment that is used for communicating” Now Vika sells jam and advertises it using her cell phone, from which she also listens to the local news and stays informed on what is happening out around Fiji.

The workshops and training given by SIGNIS created opportunities and spaces for women, youths, and community leaders to share their stories, information, activities, news, and build understanding among different races, faiths, abilities, and generations in Fiji. Their implementation builds confidence in the participants, encourages them to express themselves through the media, and teaches them about the infinite possibilities and benefits of not only having access to communication but also knowing how to harness its power.