The hard work of the mothers who wake up at 2am in the morning to prepare food, walking and travelling by boat in the early hours of the morning to reach Nausori Market daily has finally paid off.
This was stated by the Treasurer of Lako Yani Vou Co‑operative Limited, Mere Watidrawalekosoniu who could not believe that Lako Yani Vou Co‑operative Limited won the 2018 Overall Business Award in the National Microfinance Business of the Year Awards.
Watidrawalekosoniu says this win is dedicated to all the mothers of the 17 villages who take part in cooking every day.
She says most of the mothers who are members of the co‑operative are the sole breadwinners in their family.
The main aim of the co‑operative is to empower women of the 17 villages to be able to support and provide for their families and eliminate poverty in Bau, Tailevu.
Lako Yani Vou Co‑operative Limited started their cooking and selling of local Fijian food business in 2015 when the new Nausori Market was opened.
The 17 villages include Bau, Soso, Lasakau, Namuka, Nakoroivau, Viwa, Ovea, Vatoa, Waicoka,Cautata, Vatani, Dromuna, Kiuva, Muanaira, Naqeledamu, Logani and Natila.
The women from the 17 villages are rostered and rotated on a daily basis to cook and serve food from their stalls.
The co‑operative is able to generate $500 to $600 a day of which 90% of their income generated is shared amongst the women and 10% is reinvested into their co‑operative to cover the administration costs.
Watidrawalekosoniu says the co‑operative is now working on getting a kitchen built near the Nausori Market to get rid of the travelling expenses that they incur everyday and to increase productivity.
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