Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises & Development

We are thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with the University of Western Australia (UWA)! Yesterday, we welcomed a vibrant delegation of 23 students and 2 teachers to Fiji for an immersive 10-day student exchange excursion.
​Through this powerful ongoing collaboration, these students will be hosted by 6 wonderful villages within the Lautoka-Ba corridor—communities where FRIEND has deep, established roots.

​Before they set off into the communities, the FRIEND team hosted an orientation session to prepare them for the journey ahead:
​We shared the history, mission, and ongoing community work of FRIEND.
​We enlightened the students on traditional Fijian protocols, ensuring their immersion is rooted in deep respect and mutual understanding.

​This exchange is a beautiful testament to what ongoing international partnerships can achieve—bridging classrooms with real-world, grassroots community development.

​We are so proud to sustain this meaningful connection with UWA. We wish the students an incredible, eye-opening experience and can’t wait to hear their stories when they return from their outreach! Fiji Sun The Fiji Times
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🌿 Empowering the Women of Naqarani, Rewa in Agribusiness!

​True economic self-reliance begins at the grassroots level. Today, we wrapped up an intensive, 2-day Value Chain & Business Financial Literacy Training with the vibrant Naqarani Women's Group in Rewa!

​Building on our recent collaboration with Live and Learn Fiji under the EnABLE Project (supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Fiji and the World Bank), we brought these high-impact sessions directly to the women of Naqarani to help transform local harvests into sustainable, market-ready enterprises.
​Over the last two days, the participants jumped straight into practical, hands-on learning focused on two critical areas:

​Value-Addition & Technology: Moving beyond raw production, the women mastered food safety protocols, proper packaging, and labeling standards to make their products ready for formal markets.
​Financial Literacy & Governance: The group mapped out business budgets, tackled product costing to protect profit margins, and navigated the legal steps for rural business registration.
​By equipping the Naqarani Women's Group with these tangible business skills and climate-smart strategies, we are securing both food security and immediate economic resilience right here in the delta.

​Vinaka vakalevu to all the determined women who participated, and to Live & Learn Fiji for a fantastic partnership. When we invest in women, we uplift entire communities!
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🌿 Strengthening Grassroots Agribusiness & Climate Resilience in Baleyaganiga!

This week, FRIEND partnered as consultants with Live and Learn Fiji to deliver an intensive, 2-day Value Chain & Business Financial Literacy Training in Baleyaganiga Village, Cakaudove. Funded under the EnABLE Project (supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Fiji and the World Bank), this initiative directly empowers rural communities—particularly women—to transform local harvests into sustainable, market-ready enterprises while promoting climate-smart land use.

Moving beyond theory, our team facilitated high-impact, practical sessions designed to build immediate economic resilience:
• Value-Addition & Technology: Participants gained hands-on experience operating production machinery, mastering food safety protocols, and utilizing compliant packaging and labeling to meet formal market standards.
• Financial Literacy & Governance: The cohort mapped out business budgeting through practical shopping list exercises, mastered accurate product costing for sustainable profit margins, and navigated the legal steps for rural business registration.

By bridging the gap between raw agricultural production and formal business management, we are creating measurable, scalable models of economic self-reliance.
Vinaka vakalevu to Live & Learn Fiji for a fantastic collaboration. When NGOs align strengths, we deliver high-yield outcomes for community development.

🌞💡 Bringing Light, Safety and Protection to Vudibasoga Catholic Boarding School 💡🌞

Reliable lighting is essential for the safety, wellbeing, and protection of children.

FRIEND is grateful to have completed the installation of solar floodlights and streetlights at Vudibasoga Catholic Boarding School, located in the interior of Seaqaqa, Macuata, approximately 30 minutes from Seaqaqa Town.

The school provides education and boarding facilities for children aged 6–13 years, including students from across the three provinces of Vanua Levu. With no access to electricity, students and staff previously faced significant challenges after dark, particularly when moving between dormitories, footpaths, washroom areas, and other parts of the school compound.

Through this solar lighting initiative, lights have now been installed around key areas of the school, including footpaths, washrooms, outdoor spaces, and the wider school compound. These improvements strengthen child safety and safeguarding by reducing risks associated with dark and isolated areas, supporting safer movement at night, and giving students, teachers, and caregivers greater peace of mind.

For boarding schools, especially those caring for young children, safe infrastructure is not optional. It is part of creating a protective and supportive learning environment where children can feel secure, cared for, and able to thrive.

We sincerely thank Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Australian NGO Program and Caritas Australia for making this important project possible and for helping improve safety and wellbeing for children in remote school.

📍 **Enhancing Disaster Preparedness in Lakeba Village, Namuka,Macuata

A 3-day Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) training was recently carried out at Lakeba Village, with strong participation from community members committed to improving their readiness and resilience.

The training sessions focused on key areas such as understanding Disaster Risk Reduction, exploring Climate Change Adaptation, and identifying the different types of disasters that may affect the community.

Participants were actively involved in a variety of practical exercises designed to strengthen their skills, including:
🔹 Developing a Disaster Timeline
🔹 Preparing a Seasonal Calendar
🔹 Conducting Community Mapping activities
🔹 Completing IDA forms
🔹 Learning the components of a Disaster Response Plan

On the final day, participants engaged in a simulation exercise, where they applied their knowledge through role play, demonstrating how to respond effectively in disaster situations.

This training provided valuable tools and insights to help the community better prepare for and respond to future challenges.

🙏 Vinaka vakalevu to Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Australian NGO Program and Caritas Australia for the initiative in the Northern Division.

WE ARE HIRING: Join our team at FRIEND! We are hosting walk-in interviews for a Security Officer position at our Headquarters.

​📅 Date: Wednesday, 27th May 2026
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: FRIEND Headquarters, Tuvu, Lautoka

​What to bring:
​An updated CV
​An Application Letter

​Come prepared to showcase your skills and take the next step in your career. We look forward to meeting you tomorrow!
​For any inquiries, please contact us at (679) 8983183.

We are looking for passionate, driven individuals to join the FRIEND Fiji family at our Tuvu Headquarters.

​We are currently hiring for:
​Production Team Leader: Lead our production line, manage raw materials, and ensure we meet the highest standards for our FRIEND Fiji style products.
​How to Apply:
​📩 Email your CV to: [email protected]
📍 Hand deliver to: FRIEND Head Office, Tuvu, Kings Road, Lautoka.
Deadline for applications: 30th May 2026

​Check out the flyers below for full details on person specifications and key responsibilities. Join us in making a difference through sustainable, local production! 🇫🇯
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We are Hiring!!

Training & Livelihood Officer– Lautoka

✨ We’re looking for team players who are reliable, hardworking, and eager to learn

Please send your applications to [email protected] or submit a hard copy to Lautoka Office.

A driving license will be an added advantage.