Fiji Association of Women Graduates

The first monthly luncheon was held on 2 May at the Tiri Restaurant. Our speaker was the Executive Director of FWRM, Virisila Buadromo who gave a thought-provoking talk on the challenges facing Human Rights Defenders in the current militarization of Fiji politics. She reminded us that in these times of uncertainty, the media becomes the only vehicle for NGOs to voice their concerns. Any curtailment of media freedom is therefore of great concern as it effectively shuts out all avenues for the voices of NGOs to be heard.
 
FAWG’s response was to write to the media expressing its own concern re the current anti-media stance of the interim regime and to reflect the view of the FAWG Council that media freedom is our freedom.   The Advocacy Group is Mary Montu, Lily Vesikula and a Young Member to be designated by Ronna. Any volunteers welcome also.
 
Next luncheon:
FAWG luncheons will now be held on the fourth Thursday of every month starting on 24 July 2008.  The organising committee for this is Emily Hazelman (FAWG VP)  and Senimili Vukikomoala (Assistant Secretary).
Please contact Emily or Seni if you wish to be part of this group.

The latest update regarding this luncheon is it will now be held on 30 July 2008 where this redesigned FAWG website will also be launched. Hope to see you there! Click here for more information.

the girl effect, n.
the powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate in the society.

WHY GIRLS?
Because when adolescent girls in the developing world have a chance, they can be the most powerful force of change for themselves, their families, communities and nations.

But while those 600 million girls are the most likely agents of change, they are invisible to their societies and the world.

So what can you do about that? Get yourself seen, whether you're a girl or just believe in girls. Tell us when your voice is posted, and we'll add it here.

If you're ready to learn and do more, head over to www.girleffect.org

Check out their promotional video below. To the point and very well done!

From UN Radio - Marion Minis
Status of Women Committee IFUW

A tremendous amount is happening in the UN involving and affecting women, but nowadays campus media, community media, and women's media are denied press passes to cover press conferences and events put on by the UN.    You may also have heard that UN Radio is wishing to pull the plug on the  program ‘Women’ from the English service.     There is no other program focused on women coming out of UN media and radio is still a great medium to reach out to women all over the world. Especially as not everybody has access to internet or television.   For that reason the board of IFUW decided to send a letter of support to the United Nations in order to continue the program ‘Women’ on the UN Radio and to give women media access to UN events in order to report on these themselves!
Please Note: You can find UN Radio for streaming and downloading on the website http://radio.un.org

FAWG members and women members of the USP Council who attended the USP Council meeting in Tonga were hosted to a lavish dinner on Saturday 17 May 2008 by the Association of Tongan University Women (ATUW) and the PGWNet executive.  It was a great opportunity to network and see in action the benefit to be gained from international/regional friendship and hospitality promoted by being members of these organisations.  We were also informed of the ATUW conference and PGWNet Council meeting planned for 18 & 19 September 2008.  This has generated some interest and more information will be provided as they come to hand.   The theme is Maximising Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges for Women and Girls.

Members are reminded to pay their subscriptions for 2008 to FAWG Treasurer Zakia Chand at FIT. Please contact Zakia here.

The FAWG Council has agreed to meet every 2 months in 2008 and to make more use of electronic communication in between meetings.  After a slow start we are back on track and meetings will now be held on the second Thursday of the month.  The next meeting will now be held in August.   The FAWG Council meeting held on 11 June has appointed Young Member, Senimili Vukikomoala, as Assistant Secretary to work with Secretary – Fulori Sarai.  

The Young Members were successful in obtaining F$6000 from AUSAid for the scholarship fund.  The fund will be administered by the Scholarship Committee: Dr Akanisi Kedrayate (Chair), Zakia Chand (FAWG Treasurer),  Emily Hazelman Elliot (FAWG VP & Young Member), Ronna Pastorizo (Young Members Convenor).  Please direct all scholarship queries to them.
 

The Young Members held a very successful fund-raising event in March and launched the year’s activities for FAWG.   The Young Members marked International Women’s Day with an evening of festivities titled: Woman – in celebration of you.  A night of art, dance, poetry and song.  This was very well attended.

A scholarship recipient, Doreen Prasad who is doing Advanced Diploma in Civil Engineering at the FIT, was also on hand to share her story and thank FAWG members in person!

The Gender Awareness Workshop for Teachers is still proposed to be held this year.  Dr Akanisi Kedrayate is the contact person for this.