PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 12:47 PM by Luigi

Samoa women's coconut project praised

From Pacific Womens' Information Network

By Keni Ramese Lesa, from New York

It was a simple picture from a small country thousands of miles away from the city that never sleeps, New York.

It was one of a Samoan woman, dressed in a flowery ie lavalava, t-shirt and is pressing dried coconut to extract oil.

Yet at the DAG Hamarskhold Library at the United Nations Headquarters yesterday afternoon, that simple picture became the talking point for some 40 women from all over the world.

And it did more than that.

It not only turned discussions to the activities and entrepreneurship of women in small island Samoa, it highlighted the success of Samoan women in business, thanks to an initiative by the Samoa Women in Business Development Incorporated (SWBDI).

The project is the Virgin Coconut Oil administered by SWBDI, involving over 13 cooperatives and hundreds of Samoan women. It started in 1996 as part of its micro-finance and micro-project and micro-enterprise scheme.

The project allows SWBDI and participating members to use a technology called Direct Micro Expelling Process (DME) to produce organic virgin coconut oil for exports to markets in New Zealand and Australia.

The project is said to have not only improved the livelihoods of women involved, it has also improved the lives of their families, churches and villages. On top of that, it has revived coconut production and is contributing to export earnings.

The Virgin Coconut Project is one of six case studies from around the world now part of a book called “Chains of Fortune: Linking women producers and workers with global markets.”

According to the Commonwealth Secretariat, the book hopes to address then issue of globalisation in the sense that the concept does have its positives despite what other people think.

Yesterday, the Samoan delegation joined representatives from around the Commonwealth to share their success story during the Expert Panel discussions. The book compiled by the Commonwealth Secretariat, was officially there.

“This is an inspiring story from Samoa and it should be an example for all of us to follow,” Commonwealth Secretariat’s Gender, Poverty Eradication and Economic Empowerment Adviser, Saronjini Ganju Thakur remarked.

“The women of Samoa have proven that women are capable of doing these things and I suggest we take some ideas from them and learn what we can from their success so that we can implement similar success stories in our countries.”

Ms Thakur credited SWBDI for Samoa’s success and she said it was another indication of how efforts to advance women was making progress in Samoa.

SWBDI’s representative, Arasi Tiotio told the gathering that Samoa was humble about its success. She was also acknowledged the Commonwealth Secretariat for recognising Samoa’s efforts.

“The project combines three concepts that are dear to the heart of Women in Business endevaours: tradition, trade and technology,” she said.

Asked to elaborate, she said: “Tradition is protected as family groups who remain within the village do the work. The product is a pure version of an ancient product.

“Trade is encourage by the local and international sale of the oil and value added products such as scented oils and soaps. The participants are given the opportunity to learn small business management and to partake in a micro-finance scheme which teaches them credit discipline and saving methods.

“Technology comes in the form of applying the Direct Micro Expelling technology.”

Five other Commonwealth Secretariat Gender Publications were also launched yesterday.

They were:

A decade of Commonwealth Action
Multi-stakeholder Partnerships for gender equality
Mainstreaming Informal Employment and Gender in Poverty Reduction
Gender and Human Rights in the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015



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DIVA-GIS	Sunday, March 06, 2005 Posted 12:47 PM by Luigi Samoa women's coconut project praised From Pacific Womens' Information Network By Keni Ramese Lesa, from New York It was a simple picture from a small country thousands of miles away from the city that never sleeps, New York. It was one of a Samoan woman, dressed in a flowery ie lavalava, t-shirt and is pressing dried coconut to extract oil. Yet at the DAG Hamarskhold Library at the United Nations Headquarters yesterday afternoon, that simple picture became the talking point for some 40 women from all over the world. And it did more than that. It not only turned discussions to the activities and entrepreneurship of women in small island Samoa, it highlighted the success of Samoan women in business, thanks to an initiative by the Samoa Women in Business Development Incorporated (SWBDI). The project is the Virgin Coconut Oil administered by SWBDI, involving over 13 cooperatives and hundreds of Samoan women. It started in 1996 as part of its micro-finance and micro-project and micro-enterprise scheme. The project allows SWBDI and participating members to use a technology called Direct Micro Expelling Process (DME) to produce organic virgin coconut oil for exports to markets in New Zealand and Australia. The project is said to have not only improved the livelihoods of women involved, it has also improved the lives of their families, churches and villages. On top of that, it has revived coconut production and is contributing to export earnings. The Virgin Coconut Project is one of six case studies from around the world now part of a book called “Chains of Fortune: Linking women producers and workers with global markets.” According to the Commonwealth Secretariat, the book hopes to address then issue of globalisation in the sense that the concept does have its positives despite what other people think. Yesterday, the Samoan delegation joined representatives from around the Commonwealth to share their success story during the Expert Panel discussions. The book compiled by the Commonwealth Secretariat, was officially there. “This is an inspiring story from Samoa and it should be an example for all of us to follow,” Commonwealth Secretariat’s Gender, Poverty Eradication and Economic Empowerment Adviser, Saronjini Ganju Thakur remarked. “The women of Samoa have proven that women are capable of doing these things and I suggest we take some ideas from them and learn what we can from their success so that we can implement similar success stories in our countries.” Ms Thakur credited SWBDI for Samoa’s success and she said it was another indication of how efforts to advance women was making progress in Samoa. SWBDI’s representative, Arasi Tiotio told the gathering that Samoa was humble about its success. She was also acknowledged the Commonwealth Secretariat for recognising Samoa’s efforts. “The project combines three concepts that are dear to the heart of Women in Business endevaours: tradition, trade and technology,” she said. Asked to elaborate, she said: “Tradition is protected as family groups who remain within the village do the work. The product is a pure version of an ancient product. “Trade is encourage by the local and international sale of the oil and value added products such as scented oils and soaps. The participants are given the opportunity to learn small business management and to partake in a micro-finance scheme which teaches them credit discipline and saving methods. “Technology comes in the form of applying the Direct Micro Expelling technology.” Five other Commonwealth Secretariat Gender Publications were also launched yesterday. They were: A decade of Commonwealth Action Multi-stakeholder Partnerships for gender equality Mainstreaming Informal Employment and Gender in Poverty Reduction Gender and Human Rights in the Commonwealth The Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015 * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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