Maria the carpenter

Maria, 34, comes from Namosi koro (village in Fijian) in Namosi province on the main island of Viti Levu. In a community where iTaukei or indigenous traditions are strong, the responsibility of building shelter lies squarely with the men. Her interest in carpentry in a male-dominated field was ignited because of a disaster.

Following 2016’s Cyclone Winston, Habitat for Humanity Fiji hosted international volunteers who arrived to help in the rebuilding efforts. A year prior to the disaster, Maria had joined Habitat Fiji as a community development officer before moving on to host international volunteers under Global Village program. While out in the field, she noticed that most of the volunteers who helped to build homes were women who did not have any carpentry training.

Questions raced through her mind as she struggled to quell her interest in becoming a carpenter. “It would not have been acceptable to my family, let alone the community,” says Maria. Her conversation with a young female volunteer from overseas cemented her desire. “She told me, ‘we do have qualified and active (female) carpenters back home’,” Maria adds.

Hearing the volunteer’s response, Maria took the first step toward becoming the first female carpenter in her village. It was not easy, however, to gain acceptance. Maria was discouraged by men in the same field from continuing in her carpentry job. “As an iTaukei (indigenous) young woman, I was told I should observe cultural norms.”

Refusing to give up, Maria pressed on. “Anything is possible if you have faith in what you believe,” she says. All this time her family did not know what she actually did for a living except that she was working for Habitat for Humanity Fiji. Her secret was finally revealed when a Canadian volunteer team invited Maria’s parents to a build where they saw her working. They took the news surprisingly well. “My parents saw it as an opportunity for change and prosperity in our community,” she says.