Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises & Development Working with Partners towards Prosperity friend@connect.com.fj www.fijifriend.com VOLUME 5, ISSUE 10 OCTOBER 2010
Takitaki Race fo MDG’s
POVERTY MOBILSATION MONTH RACE for MDG’s There was much excitement as the youths from FRIEND communities and supporting business houses gathered in Tuvu for the annual Race Against Poverty with a difference this year. Since it’s inception in 2006, the scavenger hunt on poverty has been conducted in the city . With FRIEND’s move to Tuvu, an idyllic village around 16km towards Ba from the Sugar Capital, the race also relocated to Tuvu. The day had dawned cloudy, perfect for the racers. Chief Guest for the Day, Mr Harry Solomon, Area Manager West for WESTPAC kicked off the day with a strong emphasis on the MDG 8, “In working towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) we understand that it is not one individual‟s or one organization‟s task but needs the collaboration between Government, the Private sector, NGOs, Civil Society and the Media” The nine participating teams launched themselves fully into the challenges of the day scoping the rough terrain for clues on questions surrounding the Millennium Development Goals. This popular annual FRIEND event is loosely based on tv gameshow Amazing Race. The teams decipher clues for answers as they progress with the race. The sponsors of the day included, WESTPAC, Fiji Water, Eddie Hin and Nestle.
Forty-five per cent of people in Fiji are living in poverty, this was revealed at a workshop on poverty alleviation impact assessment. The figures, derived from the yet to be released Household and Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES 2008/2009), was presented to the workshop by the Poverty Eradication Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister. This would mean that 360,000 people in Fiji are living in poverty. Also revealed was the fact that the Government, between 2000 and 2008 had spent $1.5 billion on poverty eradication programmes but the figures from the survey had shown that instead of eradicating poverty, levels had grown since 2000. Workshop facilitator Dr Howard White of the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation told the workshop that the level
There are fears in Fiji that poverty will increase as the costs of the basic necessities of life rise. Already about fifty per cent of Fiji’s population live at or below the official poverty line which is set at an income of US$4,000 a year for a family. The bureau of statistics says there has been a marked increase in the cost of basic food and other items and global trends are pushing these higher. RNZI 4/10/2010 of poverty has increased from the last survey done in 2007 which showed that poverty was around 32 per cent..He said Fiji suffered from the twin -paradoxes of poverty in the midst of plenty and rising poverty accompanying rising spending on poverty alleviation programmes. He said the wealth of the nation was not trickling down to the grassroots but was shared among a few. Dr White said that there was a need to promote programmes which would allow people living in poverty to have equal opportunities to goods and services enjoyed by those in the high income brackets. . Fiji Times 21/04/2010
Poverty in this country can be tackled with skill building of those in need says the founder of Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises & Development (FRIEND). Sashi Kiran says that’s market exists for many local products. With improved skills and provision of market those in need will be able to walk out of poverty and have the capacity to provide for their families. In the last 8 years FRIEND has seen major changes in peoples lives by provision of these support. FRIEND programs currently provide income to many than 500 families.
FRIEND is core funded by AUSAID and NZ AID Questions or comments? E-mail us at friend@connect.com.fj