Vunuku village in Fiji’s Rewa Province serves as an example of how inclusive planning and community participation can promote sustainable development and resilience. Our team spent three days in the Village to assess the impact of interventions carried out between 2019 and 2021. Our interventions included:
- Participatory Approach to Safe Shelter Awareness (PASSA) Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
- Build Back Safer (BBS) training
- Development of the Community Disaster Risk Reduction 5–10-year Master Plan
To ensure the assessment accurately reflects the experiences and needs of the Vunuku community, we employed a variety of participatory methods, including Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Household Surveys, Individual Interviews, Community Profiling, Technical Assessment Survey and Stakeholder Consultations. This enabled us to gain a comprehensive understanding of how our interventions impact various segments of the community. This participatory approach ensured that the assessment reflects the perspectives of both leadership and marginalized groups while identifying strengths and areas for improvement for future resilience-building efforts.
During this impact assessment, we spoke with Ms. Karalaini Qalita, 45-year-old dedicated member of the village who has been driving forward the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Master Plan (2021-2031) initiatives. Originally from the island of Bau, Karalaini now resides in Vunuku with her husband and in-laws after marrying into the village.
Following the training provided by Habitat Fiji, she joined the Village Development Committee, where she represents women and persons with disabilities to ensure their needs are prioritized. The committee convenes monthly to monitor the progress of activities outlined in the DRR Master Plan and to set priorities for the upcoming weeks. Developed in collaboration with the community through PASSA training, the Master Plan serves as a roadmap for addressing key challenges, including disability inclusion and income generation.
The community includes five persons with disabilities and 17 elderly members. Through the training sessions, Karalaini together with the community developed an evacuation plan that prioritizes their safety, ensuring they are the first to be evacuated from their homes during emergencies. Karalaini has played a leading role in securing the Housing Grant for Persons with Special Needs, equating to $5000 per person. This enabled the community to construct ramps, handrails, and accessible toilets. Karalaini’s efforts have ensured that people with disabilities and the elderly are not left behind.
Karalaini is also spearheading the mushroom farming project, which generates a steady income of $400 per month. Additionally, she collaborates with other women to organize fundraising activities where food is sold for $2 a plate, raising an additional $400 each month. She also actively supports the Vunuku Women’s Disability Group that creates handicrafts that are sold during the Women’s Expo held regularly. The funds generated are used to sustain the group’s income-generating activities and support members’ financial obligations to their families and the Village DRR Master Plan.
Guided by the DRR Master Plan, Karalaini’s relentless pursuit to improve access to shelter and WASH facilities, secure income-generating projects, and provide ongoing training for members to continue with these initiatives has fostered a more resilient and self-sufficient community in Vunuku, empowering its residents to address their own needs and challenges effectively.
The development of the DRR Masterplan was supported by Habitat Australia.
