Cakaudrove Women's Resource Centre

Savusavu, Fiji

Project Summary :

The Cakaudrove Women’s Resource Centre (CWRC) project comprises the design and construction of built structures and associated landscaping and civil infrastructure to a site in the town of Savusavu, on the island of Vanua Levu, Fiji.

The CWRC is a collaborative project between the women of Cakaudrove (represented by the Soqosoqo Vakamarama in Cakaudrove), and Architects Without Frontiers Australia.

The resource centre and associated buildings aim to provide the following services: - a space for the indigenous women of the region to sell and exhibit their craft and other wares - safe and affordable temporary accommodation for women travelers - training facilities for younger rural women - strengthening of cultural traditions - improvement to the standard of living for local indigenous women through self employment

The Design Team from Architects Without Frontiers (Emma Healy, Lucia Wellington and Loata Ho) have been working on the project for over 3 years. The team visited the site in 2008 after which preliminary sketch designs were produced. These have been revised and refined with the clients over an extensive period of community consultation and feedback.

Project Updates

September 2011

AWF is excited to confirm that the project is now being funded by AusAID.

AWF Project Coordinator Leeanne Marshall and AWF Project Management Consultant James Harley visited Fiji in late August. The AWF representatives met with the major project stakeholders including the Client (SVTC), AusAID and local councils. Potential local consultants such as architects, project managers and quantity surveyors were also interviewed. AWF plans to select a local project manager in the next month to assist with delivering the project successfully.

It is preferred that local craftsman are to be engaged wherever possible on this project and that the local skilled community members are given the opportunity to work on the construction teams. Part of the purpose of the AWF visit was to begin to establish systems of sourcing local materials and labour for use in the construction of the Women's Resource Centre.

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