Ms Lotty Fugui. PHOTO SUPPLIED.
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BY LIVETT MYRNE COMFORT

A 24-year-old single mother, Lotty Fugui from Gizo Western Solomons, has always wanted to be Nurse. After she left high school, she does not sit and imagined how her dream will become reality. Ms Fugui said she followed her Uncle’s advice and joined the Solomon Islands Red Cross with the aim of becoming a registered nurse one day.

For her, Volunteering for Non-Government Organization is not only a way of stepping away from unemployment, but a good opportunity for high school leavers to build profiles, dignity, leadership and preparation for dream Jobs as well.

Let’s hear from the young enthusiastic Red Cross Volunteer from Gizo Town, who is with the NGO for the past four years.

She had involved in volunteer work while in high school, like participating in doing awareness on public health issues such as the dengue outbreak.

“During my high school days, I lived with my uncle, a Health Manager at Red Cross in Honiara. He encouraged me to join training with Red Cross because at Red Cross a Volunteer can go through training on waterborne diseases, First Aid and Water And Sanitation Hygiene (WASH).” She said. “The training is helpful.”

Ms Lotty Fugui in one of her community tours. PHOTO SUPPLIED.

While with Red Cross, she realized she does not have to be a nurse to be able to help people in need.

“I’m a Trainer of Trainer, doing training on Shelter and Protect Gender Inclusive (PGI). Shelter comes under disaster, especially on how to look after people’s dignity during times of disaster.”

 “Helping disabled people access to water, and also on their safety, especially women, girls and children. “We all participate for their safety and the provision of food and shelter.” The aspiring nurse explained.

 On Gender Ms Fugui advocates for equal participation, she stressed that in the traditional Solomon Islands concept in the case of cooking food, preparing firewood and washing, are women’s jobs, while the gender concept promotes sharing of daily tasks that both genders can do.

“In our culture women don’t actually do men’s work, to prevent that we identify the roles and share them, we encourage working together.”

“And to balance work, it depends on our mindset,” she pointed out. we recognize that we all can wash the plates, that’s not only for women.”

“When I work with people, I can identify the level of their thinking and lifestyle. It also helps me to improve on how to approach them next time.” Ms Fugui continued.

She said, she likes volunteering with the NGO as it has programs that enable her to go on tours to the local communities, reach new places and help people.

When her team visited communities outside of Gizo, she was involved in assessing the livelihood of grassroots people and the distribution of basic needs. Ms Fugui now joins volunteers for the Malaria program, distributing bed nets in the communities of Western Province. She also learned that volunteering helps to build her capacity and a way of acquiring good work references.

“When I’m not working, I stay at home and do other things, like sewing.”

“From the little bit of money I earned, I bought dye and materials and make things like food covers for sale to generate income.”  

“I encourage girls not to lose hope,” she maintained. “There are many ways to make a living, motivate your thinking and move on in life.”


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