LIFEBREAD Stay Connected has significantly broadened the outreach of its flagship Confident Woman program by introducing its empowerment training directly into communities, including the remote Yasawa Islands. This initiative marks the organization’s first venture into these isolated areas, highlighting a commitment to fostering women’s personal development.
The recently piloted community-focused version of the program, funded by Women’s Fund Fiji, was launched last year in Naviti and Yasawa. It aims to enhance life skills and personal growth among women, aligning with a direct request from the local community eager for support in this area.
Dorinda Work, Director of LifeBread Stay Connected, emphasized the importance of this outreach, describing it as a significant milestone for the organization. “The response was overwhelming. Many women shared that they had never experienced training focused entirely on their personal value, emotional wellbeing, and leadership potential,” Ms. Work noted.
This customized training diverges from traditional business-centric workshops by concentrating on soft skills. Key modules covered in the program include self-care, anger and behavior management, women’s leadership, change management, and financial wellbeing. The participants expressed that these sessions helped them envision themselves beyond conventional roles of wife and mother, acknowledging their ongoing contributions to their families and communities.
Buoyed by the enthusiastic reception, LifeBread plans to extend the program into Ba Province, collaborating closely with the Soqosoqo Vakamarama Ba to implement the program across its 21 districts. This maritime outreach not only signifies a new chapter in their mission but also reflects a growing commitment to women’s empowerment in communities that have previously lacked such opportunities.