Women play a critical role in the management and success of the tourism enterprises in all the communities that Talanoa Treks partners with. And, while every community, mataqali and household is different, it is often the case that for lots of reasons, women don’t always have their voices heard.

A year ago, during our guide training, and with the help of a gender specialist, we worked with each community to better understand the barriers that women face to becoming guides and to being able to take part in decisions that affect them, their community, and the community’s tourism enterprise.

We’re really pleased that this International Women’s Day, we’re starting a new initiative that will support the women’s groups in Naga, Nubutautau and Nabalesere to begin to address some of these barriers. Over the next 18 months, the women’s groups will be promoting health and wellness within their own communities, learning from each other with the help of some of Fiji’s most inspiring women, and project-managing improvements to the tourism infrastructure in their villages.

We look forwarding to posting more on this over the next year and a half!