A Safe Haven for Women
June 20, 2025
LifeBread Stay Connected Foundation Offers New Beginnings
What began as a small initiative in Lautoka has now grown into something much greater — a place of safety,
learning, and empowerment for women from all walks of life.
LifeBread Stay Connected Foundation has become a safe haven for women, especially widows and those from vulnerable communities. Here, they find not just training, but dignity, support, and the chance to rebuild their lives.
Founded in 2015, is quietly changing lives through its grassroots, women-centred training programs. What began as a small effort to support widows has grown into a space where women can build confidence, learn new skills, and reconnect with their sense of purpose.
The initiative was born out of a shared vision between Dorinda Works, a local community advocate, and a couple who returned to Fiji from Australia in 2014 with a desire to give back. Disturbed by the number of widows begging on the streets of Lautoka, the couple purchased land and began developing infrastructure to support training for women in need.
“At the time, I was running a small social initiative called Stay Connected Fiji,” explained Ms Works. “I was working with informal communities like Navutu and Vio Island, mostly with women and youth. I could see that money alone wasn’t the answer. What these women needed was support, guidance and a safe space to grow.”
When the two efforts combined, LifeBread StayConnected Foundation was formed — and a vision was set in motion. The organisation was formally registered as an NGO in 2015, but their progress was temporarily halted when Tropical Cyclone Winston destroyed much of the newly constructed facility in early 2016.
Despite the setback, Ms Works was determined to move forward. In 2018, the Foundation launched its first training programs with no external funding — only volunteers and a deep belief in the need to begin.
“I went out looking for widows to enrol,” she said. “But I saw so many other women — young mothers, single women, older women — all wanting to be part of it. That’s when I said, ‘Why wait until they become widows? Let’s empower them now.’”
This inclusive shift shaped the Foundation’s approach going forward. With support from the Ministry for Women in 2019 and a major grant from Women’s Fund Fiji in 2023, the organisation expanded its reach through the Confident Woman Program, a values-based training course developed in-house.
The word CONFIDENT is used as an acronym to reflect the values the Foundation instils in its participants: Committed, Optimistic, Nurturing, Fearless, Innovative, Dignified, Enterprising, Noble, and Talented.
“The issues we saw in our communities — domestic violence, poverty, trauma — needed more than awareness campaigns,” said Ms Works. “We needed to equip women with practical tools and emotional resilience. The Confident Woman Program was built with that in mind.”
In 2023, the Foundation graduated 55 women across three cycles. This year, the number grew to 60 over four training cycles, thanks to refurbished dormitories that now allow women from outside Lautoka to stay on-site. The dorms are equipped with basic amenities and offer a safe, welcoming environment for the duration of the training.
“They arrive unsure of themselves,” said Ms Works. “But by the time they leave, you can see the difference — they’re walking taller, speaking with purpose. It’s not just training; it’s transformation.”
The Foundation’s training centre has been named Almana Home. In Hebrew, almana means widow, but it also carries deeper meanings of being alone or left behind. For Ms Works, the name reflects the heart of the work being done.
“This is a place for women who feel forgotten — to be seen again. Whether they’re widows, single mothers, or women overcoming hardship, we want them to know this: they are not alone.”
With another year of funding from Women’s Fund Fiji confirmed for 2025, the Foundation is poised to reach even more women and deepen its impact in communities across the country.
“The support from Women’s Fund Fiji has truly been a turning point,” Ms Works added. “They came in just when we were struggling to keep going. Now we’re seeing women grow stronger — not just for themselves, but for their families and communities.”
For many women, LifeBread Stay Connected is more than a training centre — it’s a new beginning, and a powerful reminder of what can happen when women are given the chance to thrive.
Ends
Recent Whats New
LifeBread Pilots ‘Confident Woman’ Program in Yasawa
July 22 2025
“She Sees Me Play”
June 30 2025
Women Lead Climate Action in Yavusania Village
June 29 2025
Victoria Yee appointed as Executive Director
April 1 2025
Leading Gender-Based Violence Awareness in Vanua Levu
March 19 2025