Date: 08 Jan 2026
Leading Women to Drive Community Change in Rural Fiji
In rural Fiji, traditional norms and structures often mean village chiefs make decisions without consultation, and women are expected to comply, while quietly mobilising resources, fundraising, and fulfilling communal obligations all with little say in decision-making.
Adi Vutevute from Ra knows this reality well. As a woman in the male-dominated plumbing profession, she had long been challenging societal norms around gender roles. But it was through the Women’s Leadership Pipeline training supported by Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) and Balance of Power (BOP) in 2023 that her perspective truly shifted, not just for herself, but for the women in her village as well.
“Before, leadership for me was only within my family. But through the training my mind opened. I gained the confidence to approach the chief, government officers, and encourage other women also to step up in the village context.”
Adi credits the training for giving her practical leadership tools, confidence, and lasting networks. Facilitators created a safe space that responded to participants’ needs, allowing learning, growth, and genuine connection. Since completing the training in 2023, Adi has stayed connected with fellow women leaders through ongoing peer networks, supported by the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS). She has brought this energy back to her village, inspiring women and youth to seek leadership opportunities, access information, and speak up in community spaces.
Motivated by the program, Adi took on a leadership role in mobilising women and youth to address local development needs. Together, they drafted a proposal to Fiji Water and secured FJD $70,000 to implement a village drainage and coastline protection project.
“When we do something together, we’re visible. When we do nothing, we won’t be valued.”
Youth were employed and paid to carry out the work, while women and other young people led reporting and coordination. Today, the completed project stands as a powerful testament to women leading development in rural Fiji. Adi continues to mentor women and youth, supporting those taking on roles in Disaster Risk Reduction committees and even national youth leadership spaces.
“Nothing is impossible. We are our own obstacles. When we are willing and visionary, the benefits are for ourselves and the wider community.”
Adi’s advocacy is creating more opportunities for women to participate in leadership training and step into influential roles in village governance and local civil society networks. She dreams of one day standing for municipal elections. However, for now, she balances her leadership work with caring for her mother while motivating other women to stand for leadership roles, including in the District Council of Social services (DCOSS) elections next year.
Adi’s journey shows that when women are equipped with skills, networks, and confidence, they not only transform their own lives, they also spark lasting change across their communities.