FRIEND working with landowners in Lautoka to get food security for people on Leave Without Pay or reduced hours

Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development or FRIEND is now working with landowners in Lautoka to get food security for thousands of people who are on Leave Without Pay or reduced hours.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sashi Kiran says they are working with the Turaga Ni Koro, Advisory Councillors, youths and other people to utilize available land to plant root crops and vegetables to assist those severely affected after losing their jobs or getting reduced pay.

Kiran says assessments are coming through and about 50,000 people in the country are estimated to be severely affected.

She says they are also looking at people preserving and eating cassava and kumala leaves that used to be eaten in the past, as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to continue for some time.

She says their focus is on assisting people in Lautoka, Nadi and Ba.

Kiran says NZAID, ANZ and other people including former citizens have come forward to assist FRIEND. The organisation has used the donations to assist more than 3,000 people however FRIEND needs more support to continue to assist the affected families.

She has also assured people who make cash donations to their bank account that all the money is given to people being assisted, and none of these funds go towards admin fees. If you are interested in providing a helping hand, you can contact FRIEND on 8983183 or email them on friend@connect.com.fj