Exhibition will help Fijians
understand
Indonesian
culture better: Dr Salim
From left: Vetaia Koroi, handicraft trainer, Ali Sunchan and Litiana Koroi showing a few of the their hand-crafted products at the Bula Indonesia Trade and Cultural Performance 2013 at MHCC yesterday. Photo: RANOBA BAOA
By FARISHA AHMED
Local handicraft businesses were part of the Bula Indonesia Trade and Cultural Performance 2013 at the MHCC ground floor.
Women from the Nausori Catholic Church showcased their talent of creating valuable products out of trash materials.
Susana Yasa, one of the trainers said teaching the communities to use their knowledge and skills are fruitful.
“These help especially the women of the community to earn income just by sitting at home,” Ms Yasa said.
“We are making out purses and bags out of plastic materials that take time to decompose and convert them into resourceful material to earn a living.
“We have been part of Bula Indonesia for two years now and this is has actually boosted our business with the exposure we get.”
“Making things out of recycled products are our way of giving back to the environment,” Ms Yasa said.
“Plastics are difficult to decompose so we recycle them and sell them to tourists, hotels, local retailers and many other people.
“We are trying to give a message to them community that they can actually create products out of waste and give back to our environment.
“We are thankful to the Indonesian Ladies who actually taught our group to make use of waste materials.
“Women in communities have actually benefitted from Indonesian experts who taught ways to earn a living.”
A way of sharing
Present at the last day of the trade show was the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, Aidil Chandra Salim who said the trade show is a way of sharing.
“What we do back in Indonesia is exactly what we are teaching the people back in Fiji so that they can make products out of recycled products,” Dr Salim said.
“Indonesia has much to offer in the training of our women particularly in the production of handicrafts.
Understanding cultures
Dr Salim said the exhibition which is in its fourth year will help Fijians understand Indonesian culture better.
“I believe that through cultural exchange you will understand Indonesia better. We promote our culture so that the Fijian people can understand more of Indonesia and what Indonesia is all about.
“We are working with various ministries to go out and urge people to use their handicraft skills and incorporate waste materials, such as papers, plastic bags, snack wrappers, egg shells and coconut shells.
“People are definitely going to benefit if they use products and change their form through creativity and earn a living.”