31/01/2024
A little over a year ago, we lost one of our founding members, Sugandha Goswami. Sug or Sharni as we knew her, ran a great race against a torturous sickness, won it, but succumbed to it when it came back. Despite the effects of the pain she went through, she continued to be committed to her work with the Veinanumi Project and we can only thank her beloved Mother for allowing and supporting her to continue with us. Once the battle was won, she was with us on the road to run workshops and deliver materials to the women's groups we worked with and disposable pads needed at hospital maternity wards. Sugandha taught us a great deal through the most difficult and challenging part of her life; that giving up is not an option but to go through the challenge with all that you have.
Devasted as we were, we did not put up anything on this page to let you all know. We apologise as we ourselves were overwhelmed with her loss. For the first time since her funeral, the Team met up last night not knowing that we were meeting on her birthday. It wasn't until later in the evening that we realised that it was her birthday. We had shared stories of our life with Sugandha under the banner of the Veinanumi Project. Sug brought a different light to our Team, one that was full of laughs, jokes and a sense of humour that only we could understand and roll with.
As we begin a new year with upcoming projects, we remember our sister Sug and the commitment that she put into volunteering her time to help women and girls in Fiji even in her darkest of hours. May her soul rest in peace.
Sugandha Goswami. She obtained her Master Degree in Laboratory Medicine from the RMIT University and is a member of Cohort 3 of the Australia Awards Women Leadership Initiative. More information about Sugandha can be found via her Linkedin page - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sugandha-goswami-228853134/.
