Kilikali Settlement residents undergo week-long cancer-related education, gender and human rights, and consumer-related matters training

A week-long training was conducted for 15 residents of Kilikali Settlement in Nasinu on best practices for recycling, human rights, gender-based violence, gender disparity, various forms of abuse, consumer rights and freedom, health issues, and access to basic health services as well as education on cancer.

The training was organised by the Pacific Recycling Foundation in collaboration with Pacific Energy, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, Fiji Cancer Society, and Consumer Council of Fiji in the lead-up to the launch of the PRF’s I Recycle Hub program at Kilikali Settlement and took place at the Shiv Krish Temple Hall in Koronivia.

PRF’s Founder and the CEO of Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited, Amitesh Deo says they are grateful to their partners for accepting the request to train the recycling advocates on very important issues such as cancer-related education, gender and human rights, and consumer-related matters.

Deo says their continued partnership has allowed the PRF to empower communities, particularly women and members of the LGBTQI+ communities.

He says they are aware that informal settlements have their challenges in terms of a lack of or irregular supply of basic services such as water, and electricity, as well as problems associated with waste management.

He adds they also understand that there may be other challenges confined to these communities and they wanted to ensure that training is provided on recycling and several other important issues that impact the residents daily.

Deo says they are excited to take the I Recycle Hub program to yet another community and the week-long training is an integral part of the journey, where they have empowered the advocates to be the change agents, not only in the recycling space but in the area of gender, human rights, consumer rights and freedom as well as access to basic health services.

A core member of the recycling advocates, 44-year-old Reijieli Tale Uluitavuki, who has been residing at Kilikali Settlement since 1992, says the training workshop has been a life-changing experience for her and her fellow advocates.

She says she is grateful that Kilikali Settlement has been selected as the first informal settlement in the country for this recycling program.

Uluitavuki says they are now empowered to take the recycling program forward and hold each other accountable for their actions.

She adds they were also able to learn their rights as women, and consumers and also received education on cancer and other health-related issues.

The PRF’s I Recycle Hub Program will be launched in Kilikali Settlement on 20th June, in partnership with Pacific Energy and Nasinu Town Council.