Adilaini urges need for awareness on gender equality

Meet Adilaini Wata who wants to see more awareness on gender equality and gender-based violence in schools and communities.

She has realised this need since joining the Pacific Women Lead at the Pacific Community (PWL at SPC) programme, part of SPC’s Human Rights and Social Development (HRSD) division. 

Adilaini, who hails from Tailevu, Fiji with maternal links to the Lau Islands, says during her spare time she enjoys reading, playing board games with her three girls, watching movies and occasionally gardening.  

“Reading is a great way to get information and entertainment,” she says.

Adilaini also enjoys eating Fijian style chop suey that has with 40 per cent vegetables and 60 per cent meat and lovo – palusami (taro leaves and coconut milk cooked in an earth oven).

At work she tries her best to complete at least 80 per cent of her ‘To Do’ list for the day.  

“It’s important to make a note before you start your day, so you’re not easily distracted,” she says.

Adilaini, joined PWL at SPC as an Operations and Finance Assistant. She understands the importance of meeting deadlines during work hours so she can have quality time with her family and friends afterwards for a healthy work-life balance.  

“Prioritising your work should equally be important as prioritising your health,” she says.

As a mother of three young children, when asked what advice she would give to the youth, Adilaini says, “Don’t be afraid to fail.  Be afraid not to try”.

Adilaini started her career in the corporate sector at Pernix (Fiji) Ltd then shifted to GIZ as a Finance and Admin staff under the project - Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region (CCCPIR), prior to moving to PWL.

“Before joining GIZ, I did not know there was a program called Pacific Women Lead.  Some of the work I did in GIZ required me to contact PWL, and that’s how I found out about the great work they do,” she says.

Her interest in being part of a regional organisation grew as she was attracted by the technical work and expertise of such organisations who contribute to developing and implementing projects in the Pacific addressing economic, social, environmental and other issues.

Adilaini adds that, as a mum one of her reasons for joining PWL is that she wants to build a world in which her daughters will be safe and not discriminated.

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