Mother of two determined to make it despite the struggles

“I had to learn how to go out diving so I can feed my family and generate income.”

This was highlighted by 42-year-old, Alesi Viai who is one of 41 graduates of the Seafood Micro-qualification Programme provided by University of the South Pacific.

Viai who was born and raised in Suva and is now married in Namuaimada Village in Ra.

The mother of two says she started to go out on diving trips with her family in 2007 as this is the only source of income for the villagers of Namuaimada.

Some of the seafood they dive for are seagrape (nama) and sea cucumbers (dairo).

Viai says she had to adapt to village lifestyle as she was brought up in Suva.

Viai says she studied Economics and Public Administration at the USP but before she could finish her studies she got married and had to go through a lot of changes.

The 42-year-old says the Pacific-European Union’s scholarship Programme made it possible for her to venture into the seafood business and she believes this could be a stable source of income.