LocationsEmpowering Young Entrepreneurs: Davina’s Journey
February 13, 2024
The M4C project aims to promote gender equality by economically empowering women market vendors in Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Samoa.
Davina Theoville, a single mother of two, is a resilient 22-year-old market vendor who resides in the settlement of Vilivil in the area of Fanafo in Santo, Vanuatu. Despite her young age and the responsibilities of motherhood, Davina has defied the odds and carved her path as a successful entrepreneur as she manages her household, farm and the business.
From Market Vendor to Kava and Root Crop Farmer
Davina has been selling her root crops and farm produce at Luganville Municipal Market for over two years. She has also expanded her business as well as diversifying her offer thanks to having established her own kava farm.
Protective Cropping Training
Last year, Davina participated in the value addition training organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji under the Markets for Change (M4) project, seeing this as a turning point for her business and personal growth. At the end of the training, Davina gained confidence and new knowledge that helped transform her business. Inspired by the training, she again diversified her offerings and began selling ginger tea alongside her other products.
The Ginger Tea Revelation
Armed with newfound skills, Davina began to package and prepare ginger tea, paying attention to product labelling and packaging. When the COVID crisis hit and flu season loomed, she seized an opportunity. Unable to venture to the market due to post-COVID-19 recovery, Davina packaged and labeled her ginger tea, entrusting her mother to sell it at Luganville.
Davina Theoville, a single mother of two, is a resilient 22-year-old market vendor who resides in the settlement of Vilivil in the area of Fanafo in Santo.
A Multilingual Triumph
At the market, two French-speaking gentlemen approached Davina’s stall. Curious about the brown powder in the clear plastic, they enquired. Davina’s mother, not fluent in French, confidently pointed to the label, which contained all the necessary information. Impressed by the transparency and professionalism, the gentlemen purchased all of Davina’s ginger tea.
Expanding Horizons
The ginger tea experience encouraged Davina’s entrepreneurial spirit. She resolved to continue ginger tea production and explore other products. Proper labelling became her secret weapon—a way to attract customers and encourage them to try new offerings. Davina’s garden now boasts more ginger plants, due to the growing demand for her tea.
From Santo to Port Vila
Davina’s ambitions extend beyond the island of Santo. She envisions sharing her ginger tea not only with her local community but also with family and friends in Port Vila. With hard work, commitment and support from the M4C project, Davina is turning her dreams into reality, one cup of ginger tea at a time.
The M4C project aims to promote gender equality by economically empowering women market vendors in Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Samoa. This project, which brings together various stakeholders, offers financial literacy training that connects vendors and farmers with essential service providers. This sharing of information, raising awareness, and networking opportunities have the potential to improve the livelihoods of market vendors and their families.
The M4C project is implemented by UN Women in partnership with UNDP and with support from the governments of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
For more information, please contact:
Vilisi Veibataki, Markets for Change Project Manager, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji | vilisi.veibataki@undp.org | +679 3227701
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