25/11/2025
✨ Upcycling Veisari Project: Our Final 2-Day Workshop Completed! ✨
After several weeks of postponing from the beginning of the month, we finally completed our 2-day Upcycling Education Workshop on the 24th & 25th of November — right on time as we close the final month of our 6-month Veisari Upcycling Project.
At the beginning of this journey, we presented our sevusevu to the Vanua of Navakavu, acknowledging the custodians of the land and informing them of our mission:
💥To help households earn from their waste and protect their environment through upcycling.
Through our collaboration with Trashboom Pacific , Ledua's Art Collections - Tiko and Envirotech Solutions Pacific our project made a real impact in Waikerekere Village, especially through our M&E work in trash data collection and water quality testing during the first half of the project.
With the recent passing of a community member in Muaivuso, and out of respect for the Vanua, we had to postpone and relocate trainings for the other four villages. Even with one week left before the project deadline, we were blessed to secure our new venue at Kalekana Settlement, thanks to the support from Community Policing and partners working on the ground.
Because of the last-minute venue changes, many allocated speakers were unable to make it. But our MSME community stepped up for us.
Vinaka vakalevu to Noleen Billings and Noellie Garand for stepping in as motivational speakers and inspiring our women and youth on short notice.
Today, we celebrate the graduation of 16 new upcyclers — bringing our total number trained to 29 since July. 🎉
Over the two days, participants learned how to:
🔥Transform discarded cardboard into gift hamper boxes
💥Rip plastic bottles into thin strips for broom-making, weaving, twines, and future upcycling products
A huge highlight:
🎊With support from Beyond Talent Consultation, FRCS joined today’s session, providing basic understanding on business compliance and legislation to more than 15 participants.
This workshop brought together:
✅ Upcycling education
✅ Compliance and business knowledge
✅ Govt opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs
✅ Trash data collection
✅ Water quality testing
…all in one powerful learning space.
Vinaka vakalevu to our partners — State Department, YPL, Cultural Vistas, TrashBoom Pacific, Envirotech Solutions Pacific, Leduas Art Collection, and Beyond Talent Consultation — for standing with us every step of the way.
What a fruitful, inspiring, and empowering two days.
No one is left behind. ❤️🌿
