Twenty women from the Labasa Market Vendor Association recently completed a Food Safety Training, focusing on hygiene standards and safe food handling.
The 2-day training, part of the Markets for Change (M4C) project led by UN Women and UNDP, also delved into reducing food wastage and improving the quality of their products.
Participants emerged with increased confidence in managing their products, with many, like Maraia Waqa, who was grateful for the knowledge gained.
“This training has been incredibly beneficial,” she said. “I now feel more confident in handling and selling my products.”
Beyond food safety, the M4C project also offered a month-long series of trainings on financial literacy and sustainable agriculture tailored to vendors’ needs.
A representative from the Labasa Town Council Health Unit highlighted the collaborative effort, saying, “This partnership not only protects public health but also builds trust in our local markets.”
UN Women Representative Delphine Serumaga highlighted the significance of the training, stating, “We are not only fostering a safer and healthier market but also unlocking and empowering the economic potential of these women by upskilling them. Women represent a significant majority of workers in the informal sector, particularly as market vendors. Equipping them with the necessary skills ensures their success and, in turn, the prosperity and well-being of their families and communities.”
The training ended yesterday.
