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Developing Partnerships to Alleviate Poverty friend@connect.com.fj www.fijifriend.com

Takitaki

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4, JANUARY 2006

HAPPY NEW YEAR! FROM FRIEND L O O K I N G F O R W A R D T O TH E N E W Y E A R W I T H S A S H I K I R A N

The dawn of 2006 brings the Foundation new hopes and new challenges. Hope for growth of programs, to be able to reach out to more people and challenges of sustainability and accessing resources to meet growing demands.

One of the priorities for the year is consolidation of the office, programs and taking stock. Work on a strategic plan for the next 3-5 years will proceed. The last three years has been focused mainly on survival of the organisation, programs and products. Now we need to look at sustainability and further growth. There are many requests for our programs from interior Viti Levu , parts of Vanua Levu and outer islands. The strategic plan will determine how the requests will be met and how to mobilize resources to meet the demands. We certainly need outlets for rural craft products and are looking for shop outlets in Nadi and in Suva.

One of the greatest challenges we continue to face is the difficulty in performing work as an NGO as well as a business. Income generating programs need to be aware of consistency, quality, the market trends and demands. There are issues of stock, workshop spaces, storage space, marketing, etc. that we constantly grapple with.

Last year assistance came in many ways that has been helping us build our institutional capacity.

Many business houses have been supporting us in the fight against poverty—Punjas with label designing, marketing and distribution network, CDP with free courier services, Communications Fiji Ltd provided advertisement space on five radio stations, KPMG accounting and auditing services, Fiji Gas supplies gas and stoves, Chan Law all the legal services, APCO Coatings donated paint for mural painting and many other corporate bodies supported us. Peace Corps and AVI have provided skilled volunteers. Dr Naidu donated us a second hand vehicle for programs and we have been offered free workspace by other citizens. The generosity of many supporters has been endless and has greatly assisted our work towards poverty alleviation. There are many individuals, like Father Frank, volunteers at the RoC market and trade fairs, as well as community volunteers whose support is priceless.

Foundation for the People of the South Pacific, a regional NGO has been supporting for the last two years with institutional capacity building, training and accessing funds through EU and ADB for governance and ADB Pro-Poor budgeting in the rural communities. Secretariat of the South Pacific provided us with much needed resource materials, facilitated attendance at the FAO meeting in Samoa to be able to link with other regional NGOs, as well as sent a staff on an exchange program to Vanuatu.

FRIEND has also assisted local NGOs and government departments link with the communities.

British High Commission, Vodafone Foundation, Australian High Commission, Canada Fund, New Zealand High Commission, French Embassy and other donors much needed funds assists with service delivery and we are grateful for their assistance and look forward to on-going partnerships.

FRIEND also embarked on a new program last year—working with prison inmates and exprisoners toward restorative justice and sustainable livelihood, to prevent them from going back to crime. With this program work had begun in Natabua prison and has been put on hold by the Prison Department. However work with ex-prisoners has been continuing outside. This has resulted in a group of youths making handmade sand cards. The program is also out reaching to exprisoners associations in villages and we are hopeful that the Prison authority will let us continue the work inside the prison soon.

We look forward to all your support in the fight against poverty in 2006 and we will try our best to bring you quality products which you will read all about in Takitaki J Questions or comments? E-mail us at friend@connect.com.fj or call 679 651-1681

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4, J ANUARY 2006

friend@connect.com.fj www.fijifriend.com

Takitaki

Page 2

AUSTRALIA SHOWS SUPPORT FOR FRIEND

The Honourable Bruce Billson MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs visited the FRIEND office last month with a delegation that included Her Excellency Ms Jennifer Rawson, Australian High Commissioner to Fiji. Mr Billson presented a cheque for funding to support FRIEND’s work toward poverty alleviation. The funds will assist with administrative costs and will help ensure that we have the resources needed to continue working toward economic empowerment for underserved communities.

Mr Bruce Billson presents a Mr Billson spoke about the commitment to addressing poverty in Fiji that the cheque to FRIEND Accounts Australian government shares with FRIEND during a speech to the press and Assistant, Anjani others gathered in our office for the occasion. He also expressed that he was impressed to hear how the activities undertaken by FRIEND are making a difference in people’s lives.

After the check presentation and press conference, the Australian delegation spent time touring the FRIEND office and production facilities. They then joined the staff and guests for afternoon tea. It was an honour and a pleasure to have Mr Billson, Ms Rawson and their team visit with us. We are very grateful to AusAID and the Australian government for their generous support of the work we do at FRIEND to assist people in their struggles against poverty.

What’s Happening?

OUR MURAL INSPIRES A WORKSHOP

Jan 1 New Year’s Day

Jan 8 World Literary Day Jan 11 International Thank-You Day

Jan 26 Australia Day

There was so much enthusiasm from the youths who participated in our mural painting project in December, that we are offering the opportunity for more youths to learn about and participate in painting murals. Tanya Paton, artist and designer of the wonderful mural on the garage at our compound (pictured above), will return to the west to hold a mural painting workshop on January 17 and 18. Local area youth will have the opportunity to learn and be inspired to create wonderful works of art that can be enjoyed by all.

I N T R O D U C I N G B I G G E R JA R S A N D S A N D C A R D S

REPORT VANUATU

Sand Cards made by A program was held at the FRIEND ofTopline Youth Group fices last month to launch new products from two of our Friend’s Fiji Style™ lines.

Now available are larger, 400-gram jars of our chutneys and mango pickle. Previously, these products have been available only in a 200-gram jar. The launch of the new products is a significant milestone for FRIEND and the communities who are part of our Income Generation Program (IGP). It is an indication of the success we have already enjoyed and the growing demand for the products in the marketplace.

We have also introduced a new line of cards, handmade and designed with colored sand, to add to our successful line of Friend’s Fiji Style™ cards made by deaf youths. The new line is made by a group of unemployed youth from the Topline area of Lautoka. The line The NEW Large bottles of Friend’s Fiji Style™ Chutneys and Pickle was launched with beautifully designed cards for the holiday season. The youths are now producing cards for all occasions featuring images that evoke the sights and traditions of Fiji.

Who: FRIEND Quality Control Officer What: A two week agricultural exchange with the Melanesian Farmer First Network (MFFN ) Where: Vanuatu When: November 2005 Why: To promote the exchange of ideas, skills and knowledge among the members of MFFN How: Through the support of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community

Questions or comments? E-mail us at friend@connect.com.fj or call 679 651-1681

The trip, which included visits to farms and research stations, practical sessions and demonstrations, offered new techniques and information to share with the local farmers we work with in our IGP program. We would like to thank SPC for the opportunity.