The Tutu Rural Training Centre (TRTC) recently hosted a two-week Women’s Block Course under the Na Bula Yaga Program, drawing alumnae back to Tutu for a timely refresher and upskilling course.
Designed as a response to the evolving needs of rural women, the course aimed to strengthen skills, expand creativity, and nurture micro-enterprise development within the Vanua. Participants—many of them former TRTC trainees—welcomed the opportunity to return, reconnect, and renew their journey of empowerment.
Upskilling and Upscaling for Enterprise
The course focused on practical and creative areas that directly support women’s role in household economies and small-scale business initiatives. Participants engaged in hands-on workshops in:
- Small Business Management & Sales – understanding pricing, customer relations, and marketing.
- Sewing & Contemporary Art – combining traditional talent with modern designs.
- Screen Printing – producing garments and crafts for sale in local and wider markets.
- Traditional Art & Handicrafts – sustaining cultural identity while creating income streams. Through these sessions, women not only refreshed their earlier training but also gained tools to scale up their micro-enterprises in ways that enhance family income, community resilience, and cultural pride.
Resourcefulness within the Vanua
At the heart of the program was TRTC’s commitment to helping women recognize and maximize the resources already available to them—whether land, local materials, or cultural knowledge. The women shared stories of how, despite challenges, creativity and solidarity within the Vanua have allowed them to sustain their families and communities.
Alumnae Voices
For many alumnae, the two-week program was more than just skills training. It was a space of sisterhood and encouragement.
“Returning to Tutu feels like coming home. We are reminded that we are capable of so much, and that our hands can provide not just for our families, but for the future of our children,” one participant shared…(Biau)
The Way Forward
The Women’s Block Course reaffirmed TRTC’s role as a center of lifelong formation, not only for young farmers but also for women and families across Cakaudrove, Bua, and Macuata. Through the Na Bula Yaga Program, TRTC continues its commitment to accompany alumnae in practical, innovative, and faith-filled ways, ensuring that rural women stand as leaders of social innovation and sustainable development in their Vanua.
