Fashion: Income Earner for Youth

A lot has been said about the Fiji Fashion Week and how it has created a certain image for young girls that may not be acceptable by all members of society, especially regarding the models. Be that as it may, are there any benefits from Fiji Fasion Week for youths in Fiji?

The unstoppable Ellen Whippy has had much to say about young designers and how she wants to help youth whether it be in giving advice or helping to start their own businesses.

The Fiji Fashion Week is almost a household name, with so many major media sponsors. You see it everywhere you go in Suva. And let’s not forget the people’s meeting place MHCC, where there are photos of models draped along the walls when you’re riding the escalator, so it’s quite hard to miss them.

It is really about helping the young designers get somewhere. It is satisfactory to see their clothes out there in stores. One thing that has been really successful for us has been that 60 per cent of our designers from last year’s show have been actively sewing/supplying by demand. One of our girls has made up to $40,000 in sales only from October last year. We need to find designers who are interested in making this a career so we can help develop them and get them recognised overseas.

The Fiji Fashion Week has evolved into a bigger and better show that has truly developed the skills of young designers here in Fiji. They have been setting up model and designer workshops bringing in professionals from overseas to give local designers a chance to reach the standard of big brand fashion names.

I think I had better join one of those workshops as I can’t really sew well and you know how it is, it seems expected for girls to be so domestic in society. But on another note, this is another opportunity for youths in Fiji to develop their talents and follow their dreams. I want every youth to get as much education as they can, but what shall we do if they do not want to get a degree?

If youths want to design or do something that they have a passion for then who are we to stop them? I think it will be a very sad day when we stifle a youth’s passion. And we do not want to have jobs that do not truly satisfy us, most of our parents are already there, shall we follow suit?

No. That’s the thing about youths. We always want something new and better and we want to make a difference in society.

News is the Fiji Fashion Council will be up and running soon and it will be an export industry. There is huge potential to export garments. I expect loads of designers will be grateful for this. So next thing you know, you’ll be hearing someone in America telling her girlfriend that she got her dress from a designer in Fiji. Lets hope so.

A Clean Diwali

The youth of Labasa have been very busy indeed. We just heard about what happened in the rain during Fiji Independence Day and now they struck again during Diwali. This time while most people would no doubt take advantage of this public holiday and catch up on their rest, besides the Hindus who would be busy preparing for this festival, youth from the Evangel Temple in Labasa chose to clean the back streets of Labasa.

 TJ Loloma, a youth representative said the youths came with this idea on their own.

The activity was their own initiative in trying to clean up the town. Even though it was a public holiday, they decided to take their time out to reach out to the community with this minor act of picking up rubbish. Some people did not recognise the effort of the youths but they are just doing what they learnt in church, which is to help and reach out other people. We should never underestimate the power of youth because they are the leaders of tomorrow.

 The youths are happy to be spending their holiday picking up rubbish because they believe that this is a form of helping the Indian community in a spectacular way. And what a way to give back to the community. I'll tell you something. It's not easy giving up free time especially for young people and I know all university students will agree with me. Semester is coming to an end and people are trying to rack up study schedules to make it through, hand in assignments and do so many other stuff for family, religious commitments and friends.

I'm just trying to picture that clown on a tricycle at circus' who can juggle so many things at once. I doubt he could juggle the things in my life. Anyway, no offense to that clown. It just seems that way to me. We've heard this so many times and I've blogged about this, the little things we do count. Sure, it may seem like this group of youth is wasting their time because the streetes are going to get dirty again and we already have people to clean up, town councils. But why can't we young people help out?

Like I said, youths are a nation’s greatest assets. Leaders of tomorrow, acting now so that things can be done in a simpler and easier way, with of course the guidance of our elders and current leaders. That's what working together is all about and that is how we strengthen the relationships between youths and elders. Everyone has a part to play. Are you playing yours? Well it seems like the youth have moved a pawn and they seem to have a good gameplan.

And everyone thinks being a youth is so easy. It's not. We have a responsibility for the great potential that is harnessed within all of us. We just want to be heard, because we have ideas and we want to help because we can. It would have been easier to be that clown on a tricycle.

Bottle Water Drive in aid of Tuvalu

While everyone was probably planning what to wear for the USPSA (Laucala) and ISA socials last during the weekend. A great bunch of youths and friends were busy on Wednesday at Sukuna Park for a Bottled Water Drive in aid of Tuvalu.

The Deputy High Commissioner, Avatoa Irata was present on the day and said the water problem in his country was critical.

The crisis has worsened because the public storage is running out. It is not just Funafuti but other parts of the Island that is experiencing water problems. Tuvalu has been without water for six months and there’s still no sign of rain. More of the elderly are being hospitalized as a result of dehydration as they gave up their share of the water for the children. There are also cases of diarrhoea, thyphoid and other diseases because of the unsafe drinking water and school are running low on classes. Only the classes with external exams are schooling.

We had many young people donating bottled water with the likes of USPSA Laucala, Wantok Moana, Geography Students and the Land Management Students Association. The drive was in honor of the Water Crisis in Tuvalu. Every bottle counts. The youths joined hands to contribute to this worthy cause. This show of unity was a demonstration to the world that no matter what turmoils and difficulties that we, Pacific Islanders go through, the solidarity remains intact for we all belong to ONE ocean, and we are all ONE people.

A very warm welcome was extended to the Tuvalu Community of Suva and the Tuvalu Students Association who attended the drive and was very grateful for the initiative set up by the youths.

80% of the people donating bottled water were young people who gave up their time to help out for a worthy cause. Imagine if more young people had the same mindset, and dedicated just an hour or two of their time in a day or even a week to help others. So much could be accomplished. Who knows what young people can come up with?

Majority of the youths consisted of USP students and contributed in their own special way. The Tuvalu Students Association dazzled the stage with a traditional dance. Rusiate & Brothers, winners of USP’s Got Talent performed on the day. Tihati Devoe, a finalist USP’s Got Talent Show, also performed his track along with Natalie Raikadroka, MIC finalist. Yet another group of youths utilizing their talents to support something they believe in. This is definitely an eye opener for other youths. Use what you have to make a difference.

There were also donations from many organizations such as The Bank of the South Pacific, KPMG, Japanese Embassy, TFL, ADRA Fiji (YDH), Corpus Christi Teachers, Office Products, Shipping Services Limited and many other individual donations from family and friends.

In all over 5000 litres of water was collected and and well over $1000 was donated. The Econesian Society has shipped off 320 cartons of water to our brothers and sisters in Tuvalu.

A round of applause to the youth for their hard work and taking the initiative to extend a hand to help our neighbours in Tuvalu. Keep shining your light.