Habitat for Humanity Fiji launches “She Fixes It” campaign to train women in plumbing

Habitat for Humanity Fiji has launched the “She Fixes It” campaign to mark World Habitat Day, and in order to empower women with essential home plumbing skills to help create safer, stronger, and more resilient communities.

Resource Development Lead, Alisia Evans says World Habitat Day has been celebrated for more than 40 years, recognising the universal right to have shelter.

She says having a resilient house is more than building cyclone-resistant roofs, frames, or foundations; it’s also about having a reliable water supply and sanitation infrastructure.

She adds that basic plumbing is often an overlooked component.

Evans says with the launch of the “She Fixes It” campaign, they aim to raise $100,000 to empower 200 women with basic home plumbing skills in up to ten urban and peri-urban areas, including informal settlements in and around the Central Division.

The campaign includes a three-day basic home plumbing training for women, where $500 can train one woman in basic plumbing, $450 can provide a community with plumbing tools, and a $10,000 donation can directly impact 20 women and benefit another 90 to 100 people in their families.

Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, says the launch celebrates not just the power of skills but also the power of women as agents of change in their communities.

She says as cities grow, communities face urgent challenges and this initiative equips women with essential plumbing skills to help address critical gaps in housing and sanitation, ensuring that homes and communities are safe, resilient, and sustainable.

She says plumbing is not just a technical skill but it also creates economic opportunity, allowing women trained through the programme to generate income, start small businesses, and contribute to their households and communities in new ways.

She is encouraging women to seize this opportunity and take advantage of the learning opportunities this knowledge brings to their homes.

She adds that when women thrive, families are strengthened, and when families are strong, our communities prosper and our nation moves forward together.