The VotCity Flea Market which started with only two vendors on 18th April, has now grown to be a beacon of hope for about 215 more families who have lost their jobs in Nadi after COVID-19.
VotCity Flea Market is located in Votualevu and is open from 7am to 5.30pm from Monday to Saturday.
Markets Manager Vili Finau says the locals have been inspired to be entrepreneurial during this challenging time.
Finau says with the introduction of the VotCity Flea Market, people who are unemployed in the tourism industry took advantage of this platform and saw it as a blessing.
He says most of the people who are coming to sell are airline crew who were recently terminated and a wide range of the working population who have lost their jobs.
He says people from the tourism and service industries whom the population of Nadi are predominantly from, come and showcase their skills and resources to put to practice what they have learnt from their fields and generate income for their families.
He says this has given them hope to continue with life.
Finau says they saw a slight decline in business but the sustainable income generated was able to see a smooth transition for families to see their children off to school.
He says VotCity has brought people from all over the country and has created businesses for the local community and show them what Nadi is all about.
Finau says they have people not only from the local villages but also the Koreans, Chinese, Brazilians, Indians and even an Argentinian couple who are trying to raise funds to return to their country after being stuck in Fiji for 4 months.
He says the idea came about after a discussion was held between the Chairperson of the Special Administrators of Nadi Town Council Debra Sadranu, Nadi Town Council CEO Craig Powell and the AOG Church which owns the land VotCity sits on.
Finau says Powell called him to start the plan starting with the name VotCity which is synonymous with the area it sits on, Votualevu, Nadi.
If you want to come forward to assist the unemployed in Nadi, you can visit VotCity next to the Votualevu Roundabout from 7am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday.
