pn900. Fiji: Bainimarama says two NGOs are part of political parties

Shamima Ali, FWCC

Sashi Kiran, FRIEND

Fiji Village reports PM Voreqe Bainimarama saying that the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and FRIEND Fiji are not NGOs but members of the National Federation and People's Alliance parties.  

pn822. FRIEND's Sashi Kiran - "Follow your Dreams: What's the worst that could happen?" on TED TalkxSuva

 

Update 16.12.21. People crying out for food.

I first met Sashi Kiran when she was my guide on an around-the-island tour of Viti Levu and a shorter tour on Vanua Levu. We were visiting Fiji Council of Social Services local locations as part of my consultancy for an aid agency. 

Later, before she left FCOSS, I persuaded her to study for a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies at the University of the South Pacific. She had previously worked in media for three years. With this and her development work with FCOSS , she was eligible to enter our programme although she did not have an undergraduate degree.

I had always wanted Development Studies to have close, interactive ties with the NGO "development" community and I had persuaded the university to amend its regulations to allow entry for people active in NGOs who did not have an undergraduate degree.