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We are thankful for various recognitions of our poverty alleviation efforts.
Second Runner up in the non government category
An inaugural award by the ABC Foundation (Fiji) to recognise efforts of those working at improving lives of fellow citizens.
Fiji Association of Social Workers has membership of community workers from around the country. The Association surprised FRIEND with its decision especially in view of the fact that no one from FRIEND was holding membership to FASWA. We were told that the nomination to award FRIEND received unanimous support from FASWA membership.
Awarded to FRIEND Income Generating Program(Food Products) for Poverty Alleviation. Best Practices are analysed with a view to extracting lessons that others can learn from and incorporate in their own programs.
This came in recognition of the Youth Employment Network (YEN) program at FRIEND. YEN is a database for unemployed youth who are provided with increased job marketability opportunities with skills trainings and job placements for work experience. The criteria the judges used for evaluating these projects included originality, sustainability, potential for positive impact on citizen rights and justice movements, and partnership opportunities.
This prestigious award came in recognition of being the driving force behind the various New Initiatives Small Business Awards.
Handmade Cards Initiative - Deaf Card group
Tamarind Chutney Project - Ba Senior Citizens Center
Sweet Mango Chutney Income Generation Initiative - Kamla Wati
The award recognised the use of internet technology as a means for an income generation program for youths. Nileshni Sekar, a volunteer with FRIEND at that time, searched the net and learnt the art of quilling. This she shared with a group of about twenty deaf youths that kickstarted the Friend's Fiji Style range of handmade cards.
FRIEND's existence received much publicity with this visit. The organisation was barely three years old and still very much in its stages of infancy, struggling to serve the underserved with help and support of volunteers and friends.