Twenty more students equipped for thriving lives from Tutu RTC in Fiji
Mena Antonio presents Sitiveni Sovaki and Sera Vakaluma with their ‘Home Furnishing Notes’. Assistant Minister for Agriculture, the Honourable Tomasi Tunabuna, is on the left.
In early August 2023 a graduation of the latest cohort of 20 people from the farming and life management course for married couples run by our Fiji partner Tutu Rural Training Centre.
Chief Executive / Kaiwhakahaere Matua Mena Antonio presented couples with their ‘Home Furnishing Notes’ to guide graduates with continued application of their newly acquired skills.
Tutu RTC provides non-formal education to help young Fijian farmers build thriving lives on their own soil, integrated with their culture. Married couples courses have been running since 1972. The six-month course covers practical farming skills such as soil science and compost-making in the art of growing vegetables, as well as furniture making, and creative handcrafts made from local resources.
But most important is Tutu’s education and formation in human development – for students to better understand themselves and their relationship with creation.
During the course, couples alternate four weeks on-site at the Tutu RTC near Wairiki on Taveuni Island, followed by four weeks applying their skills and learning at home. During the 6-month course, the couples grew produce on land set aside for the married couples course – land that has been organically and sustainably farmed for 12 years.
The life-changing work of our partners at the Tutu Rural Training Centre is just one example of the impact of your support. Your donation, multiplied through our partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, will support young farmers in Fiji to reach their potential, and to live ‘thriving lives’.
Her husband Sitiveni Sovaki expressed gratitude saying “We go back home and we tell the other to come, learn, for the course.”
Sitiveni Sovaki and Sera Vakaluma from Qeleni village on Taveuni, in front of a wooden cabinet and craftwork created while on the course.