Forty-five former street dwellers in the Western Division have taken a bold step toward a brighter future, as none have returned to the streets following their participation in the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ Easter camp.

With nine individuals already reunited with their families and others placed in safe homes in Nadi and Mulomulo, the program marks a powerful shift from vulnerability to stability driven by empowerment, reconciliation, and opportunity.

The Ministry took a culturally significant step by presenting Matanigasau to the families of the street dwellers a traditional gesture of apology and reconciliation to help mend broken relationships and foster healing.

Youth Officer West Kaminieli Matai Sadrata said the program goes far beyond temporary shelter, emphasizing that the individuals are already contributing meaningfully in their new environments.

“For our safe home, we thank the two farmers that have come on board to assist the Ministry in taking these young people to live in their farm temporarily while we search for their job, but they are not there just to stay, they are working in those farms, their work starts today at those two farms” Sadrata highlights.

Sadrata has also confirmed that discussions are ongoing for the use of unutilized government quarters as transitional housing for those who secure full-time employment in town areas.

In partnership with Fiji National University and the Ministry of Employment, a job search program is being organized to match the youths’ new skills with real job openings.

“That’s for now, and also next week, sometime this week, we’ll just have a brief this morning and then we will confirm the dates and time for their job search program, as I’ve alluded earlier in the media yesterday, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment in getting the employers that are suitable to the training, the skills training that they’ve done through Fiji National University in the past weeks” Sadrata mentions.

Among the first companies to offer employment is Viti Roofing, which has taken on five of the young men from the group.

Managing Director Maciu Naivalu said the company is proud to support the Ministry’s initiative.

“It’s quite inspiring just to just to give sort of give back to youth and watching the ministry bring up the street the street dwellers and to give them an opportunity and a second chance in life” Naivalu said.

As these young people settle into their new environments, their journey is just beginning – and with support, skills, and faith now part of their foundation, the future looks hopeful.

By: Joeli Ragoneliwa