LifeBread Pilots ‘Confident Woman’ Program in Yasawa

YASAWA, FIJI – LifeBread Stay Connected Foundation’s flagship initiative, the Confident Woman program, has taken a new direction, reaching remote island communities for the first time. The organization recently piloted a condensed version of its empowerment training in the Yasawa Islands, specifically in Gunu, Naviti, marking a bold shift away from its traditional hosting model to directly engaging with women in rural and maritime areas.

The Confident Woman Community Training Programme is funded by Women’s Fund Fiji and is designed to build life skills and personal development among women. It was introduced in Yasawa in June following a community request and delivered over three days to 32 women—31 of whom successfully graduated with a certificate of completion.

“This was a defining moment for us,” said Dorinda Work, Director of LifeBread Stay Connected Foundation. “For the first time, we tailored the program to a community setting and saw incredible results. The women told us they’d never had training that focused solely on them—on their value, their personal growth, and their emotional wellbeing.”

The customized program focused on soft skills rather than hands-on or business-related training. Core modules included self-care, personal development, anger and behavior management, women’s leadership, change management, and financial wellbeing.

According to Work, feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. “Many of the women shared that they had never thought of themselves beyond the roles of wife and mother,” she said. “But now, they see their worth. They understand that life doesn’t end after marriage or widowhood—they still have so much more to offer their families and communities.”

One powerful moment highlighted during the pilot was when a participant used what she learned during the training to lead a family devotion that same evening, already creating a ripple effect within her household.

With interest growing from surrounding communities and villages, LifeBread plans to expand the program throughout the Ba Province by working with local leadership and following traditional protocols. Meetings have already been scheduled with the Soqosoqo Vakamarama Ba to roll out the initiative across 21 tikinas.

“This is a new window for Lifebread,” added Work. “We’ve seen firsthand how much this type of training is needed. It’s not just a program—it’s a movement of women recognizing their value and stepping into their power.”

For more information about the Confident Woman program or LifeBread’s community outreach plans, please contact:

Contact:
Mrs Dorinda Work
Director, LifeBread Stay Connected
Email: stayconnectedfiji@gmail.com