1.  Fallen Rainbow: “Hey, what does activist mean and what do you do?”

Answer:  Hello or as we say here in Fiji “Bula” and thank you for your question B-)

Some definitions of an activist are “campaigner, an advocate, a protestor”…. For me it takes a personal approach, starting from learning and seeing my parents being involved in our community and also contributing to national issues.

For me it is also about taking positive and non violent action when you see that something is not right especially for women – it started at school voicing my concern when girls were treated differently from boys; it is also about joining marches or rallies/protest (find out about the rich history of women’s action in the UK!) or just getting involved about something that you feel strongly about from health to environmental issues, to eliminating all forms of violence.

Women have been involved in the peace movement for a long time, but the sad thing is that we don’t hear enough about women’s actions and activism as much as we hear about the problems.

As an activist I have convened peace vigils, I have written articles in the newspaper, I talk to the media about our issues and my work through femLINKPACIFIC uses media to campaign on women’s participation in peace and security and other issues which women in our network also feel important. We put women’s issues as the key issues in our media and one of the things we do is use our “suitcase radio station” so women are heard and then we take what the women say and make recommendations to policy makers in different ways for the involvement of women in issues relating to peace and security.

So activism is abut and taking part in community activities for those less fortunate than you – in your community or country or in another country – and activism is also about keeping yourself about the issue that concerns you the most and becoming a specialist ….try not to get caught up in just attending rallies or activities but try and find one or two issues that you feel strongly about, such as violence or peace or women’s rights and stay focused on this …..activism is about working for long term change too!

Visit femLINKPACIFIC on Facebook or our website www.femlinkpacific.org.fj

 

2. Slakka: “I think you’re amazing, where did you get all you’re confidence, I have hardly any.... Could you give me any tips on how to be more confident?”

Answer: Hello or as we say here in Fiji “Bula” and thank you for your question B-)

I have to admit I am quite a private and shy person, especially when I was working in television because on TV you become a very “public person” with people recognising you on the street! But I have to say both my parents encouraged me as a young girl to be confident and strong and speak my mind (and believe me I am very opinionated!) Much of it involved after school activities like Brownies and Girl Guides, ballet, junior choir, etc helped also in mixing with new and different people.

At high school I took part in oratory and debating and even drama/school musicals because those are great ways to express yourself in a group situation also.

When I was 20 my mum encouraged me to get involved in the YWCA – Young Women’s Christian Association and that has also guided me a lot in my own personal development - and recognising that I have the potential to be a communicator for others (and guess what my daughter is now the youngest member of the Fiji YWCA National Board!)

So that’s my story …and for you I would like to share what I have shared with my own daughter - start by believing in yourself and don’t be shy to express yourself, to be yourself – don’t be afraid of being different especially from what may seem to be the “popular set” – be a doer, recognise that you have the potential to be a leader, not just a follower especially when you know you are just trying to fit in.

Don’t be a wallflower, put a smile on your face, walk with your head held high! Share your ideas for an activity or event – like when I was 17 and in a new school, I helped choreograph our 7th form concert item and initially I was just sharing ideas and dance moves and next thing I was playing the part of Michael Jackson in our “remake of Beat It!”

You will be surprised how doing this changes things around you.

To be confident you also need to be an informed person so try to stay in touch with the news, be informed about what is going on around you  ….and most of all never, ever let anyone tell you that you are not a beautiful and special person …!

 

3. MamzelleNora04: “What do you do to raise awareness of young children who witness violence against their mother?”

Answer:  Hello or as we say here in Fiji “Bula” and thank you for your question B-)

This isn’t an easy question to answer, but I hope from my own personal experience and the work I do today with mothers can help.

Because I know from personal experience that the first step is for the mum to be supported including with information about her reality and that there are other women who have made a change to take that step out of the cycle of violence. Too often the mother may think that she is staying in the relationship for the sake of her children without realising what it means to the children who are experiencing the violence. That is why schools play a very important role – I think all schools have a responsibility to be able to provide a space where children who may be facing violence at home can find the very important support or space they need to be able to share that this is what they are experiencing. This needs to be in a gentle and respectful way as the children will already be traumatized and should be done with trained counsellors who if the school doesn’t have this type of support can be found through community groups or other networks.

This might be a way for the mothers to be invited to also receive counselling and the support they need to leave the violent situation.

Schools can also join and support campaigns such as the 16 days and display information and children can be encouraged to sign up for more information…this could lead to more support to help individual children.

Schools can also invite women who are survivors of violence to talk to the school assembly and to share their personal story – when children and even other women realize they are not alone in facing this awful situation, this can help build confidence in making the decision to leave the situation.

 

4. IloveRosalie3: “How come you came with an idea of creating femLINKpacific?”

Answer:  Hello or as we say here in Fiji “Bula” and thank you for your question B-)

I was very inspired by one woman Anne Walker who is my friend now, who after helping start the Fiji Young Women’s Christian Association went on to help establish the International Women’s Tribune Centre in the 1970s! I discovered the IWTC’s work when I was learning about women’s human rights issues and discovered women’s media!

I have to admit that aside from some freelance writing initially there wasn’t much of an opportunity for this work when I started in the broadcasting media here in Fiji, first in radio and then TV and I learnt everything – from production to management but then by 2000 I needed to take a break from all the commercial media and then as my country faced a civilian coup and I became a spokesperson for our women’s peace vigil I realized that this is where women’s media can help …to bring women into decision making for peace in our country and so a few of us got together and helped establish femLINKPACIFIC! So it took media skills and a passion for using the media to be a voice for women and young women and girls who don’t make the news…it took having mentors like Anne who encouraged me and now ….femLINKPACIFIC is 10 years old and recognised for the work we do including having one of the few women’s community radio stations – operated for and by women – and involving young women as programme producers and broadcasters!

I hope you will visit femLINKPACIFIC on Facebook or our website www.femlinkpacific.org.fj to find out more!

 

5.  serabear434: “hi you're inspiring to all people! I think that you are doing a great thing to help people! But, one question how did you get inspired to do this job? thanks!”

Answer: Hello or as we say here in Fiji “Bula” and thank you for your question B-)

My work as a media professional and young feminist have been a parallel or interconnected journey and my inspiration has been the YWCA which always had a strong communications programme and I have had the privilege to be involved to express myself, to find my “voice”; there is my Mum and other women’s media advocates in particular Anne Walker who is actually from Melbourne, Australia and Vanessa Griffen who is from Fiji and loads of other women who recognised that the work I do is also important and encouraged me and the acceptance by women in the rural communities which says that what we have created as femLINKPACIFIC makes sense for them keeps me inspired ….and finding a whole host of other women’s media activists so realising also that across the world there are a whole host of us dedicated to using media, to use our media skills as feminists and to speak out for and with women!

I hope you will visit femLINKPACIFIC on Facebook or our website www.femlinkpacific.org.fj to find out more!