A paper making workshop was conducted from 7–11 July for over 20 trainees who decided not to take their one-week semester break. Experiments with paper production processes resulted in a range of paper products that could be used for various purposes such as cards, decorative paper bags, and even certificates. The 2008 graduation certificates have been printed from papers produced during the week-long training. The workshop was conducted jointly by Vasiti Naucukidi and Mereia Naivakaucu, both of Fiji. Mereia is from the village of Wainimakutu who provide handmade paper for Pure Fij.

Participatory learning and action (PLA) tools have enabled CETC trainees to develop facilitation skills, and taught them how to interact with community members, listen and also learn from them. These tools also empowered community members to look at their own communities from a different perspective.

At Naqeledamu, Tailevu in Fiji, the transect walk in and around the village assisted the villagers to identify resources available to them. The villagers grouped as men, women and youths took the walk and recorded their own observations which were later presented to the whole group. The village map required the villagers to present on paper their observations during the transect walk. The map showed the total picture of the village including their residence, road, farm, river, shop, church and the school. The exercise was valuable as it gave the villagers the opportunity to note the resources available to them which could be used for community development efforts.

On 2 August, the Head of CETC and four staff members, and a onsultant from the University of the South Pacific, Professor Joseph Veramu, visited the Marist Tutu Training Centre on aveuni Island to;

i) review the “Married Couples Course” which is a 6 months ourse.

ii) compare the programmes with other similar programmes rom other institutions, and offer ways in which improvements could be made to existing resources and programmes on offer.

The Tutu Centre was founded in the late 1960s. It offered adult education courses in 1973, and has been operating on a partnership basis between church, government and the people of the Cakaudrove Province where the Centre is located

Multi-media skills used for Cultural function

Trainees took the opportunity to implement a mini media campaign for the Cultural evening held on Friday 18 May. They developed print and e-media materials to publicise the event - a poster, programme, an invitation card and a newsletter. 

The multi-media training helped trainees to learn how to develop a mini-media publicity campaign and materials for publicity.  These materials were used to invite people to attend the cultural night and were also a means of an awareness drive for CETC, to promote Pacific Island cultures through dance and music, and to fund raise.

The invaluable use of media skills for the cultural function was initiated by the RMC staff – Etivina Lovo, James Ranuku and Tamani Nair collaborating with the trainees.

By KELERA SERELINI

Feature story in the Fiji Sun - Tuesday March 27, 2007

More than 30 women from the Pacific had gathered at the Secretariat Pacific Community Education Training Centre in Narere to officially open a seven- month- Live in programme for women community workers around the region.

The women will focus on various skills and knowledge in community development using non- formal practical, participatory methods of learning during the next seven months.
There are three participants from Fiji and the training is expected to help them maximise Fiji’s potential in health, culture and information that enhances the empowerment of women and young people in our community.

This is the aim of the Centre, with the hope that it will benefit the participants at the end of the training period. Head of CETC Lia Maka welcomed the participants and wished them well during their stay in Fiji in the next seven months.
The women represent the 12 countries in the Pacific region, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Kiribati, Tonga, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Tokelau, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna.

Community Development Training

On March the 21st the Community Development Course was officially opened by His Excellency Mr. Sherman Shih-Nan Kuo, Representative of the Trade Mission of Taiwan (ROC). Thirty-four women from the pacific member countries have been selected for the 7 month Community Development Course. A key process in this course is the Community Outreach Programme (COP) component that enables all trainees to experience two villages attachments. This is where trainees will apply some of their ideas learned through the Core and Support Courses.

International Women's Day

SPC Suva office commemorated the significance of International Women's Day with a debate on the topic "Violence Against Women is part of Pacific Island Culture".

Affirmative team (for) members Deputy Director General Falaniko Aukuso, Sairusi Bulai (Forestry division), Fagaloa Tufuga (Maritime division)

Opposing team (against) members Dr. Rufina Latu (Population Advocacy division), Dr. Lia Maka (Head of CETC), Avnita Goundar (Maritime division)

Community Education Training Centre (usually known as CETC)

The Community Education Training Centre (CETC) occupies a unique historical position within SPC and more so in Pacific development.

CETC was the first SPC program established in Suva in 1963. It was initially established as a home economics training centre in response to the lack of non-formal and vocational training opportunities for women in the Pacific. It was first located at Nabua and relocated to Narere in 1983. It is now in its 44th year of operation, and has graduated more than a thousand women in the Pacific.

This is indeed a long period and CETC has stood well to the tests of time and the interests in its work have not waned with time. Evidently this ability to survive says much about the relevance of this program for the pacific women and communities. This has also being reflected in the participation of the countries every year since its establishment.