© 2012 Fruition Horticulture Vakameasina – now and the future Presentation to RSE Conference Presented bySandy Scarrow, Colin Carson and othersJuly 2015

© 2012 Fruition Horticulture

Vakameasina – now and the future

Presentation to RSE ConferencePresented by Sandy Scarrow, Colin

Carson and others July 2015


Delivery to Date• 3,721 workers enrolled• 24% female participants• 9 countries participating• Delivery now in Cambridge, Wairarapa, Levin, Tuakau • Delivery to being in Kerikeri this month


AWHI – Small Business Pilot• Small Business Training and Development Pilot • 8 groups of 10 workers• Vakameasina delivery focused on business planning and technical

skills associated with the business idea• Applications to Awhi will be vetted by the Stakeholder Liaison Group• Pilot links into support agencies back in the Pacific


Vakameasina – the future

• MFAT through their New Zealand Aid Programme still keen to support worker training

• Not sure what this will look like post May 2016


Introducing Awhi• The newest Vakameasina course• The name indicates support and nurture • Aimed at assisting community projects

and small business start-ups


Rationale for Awhi• Many RSE workers want to be self sufficient• They aspire to make a contribution to their

community• Their desire is to support their family and

set up an ongoing commercial legacy for that family


Vakameasina• This course has been tremendously successful• It has boosted • English language usage• General literacy • Numeracy skills• Digital literacy


Awhi Adds More• Awhi is designed to identify community projects• These projects will make a difference to the

communities of the participants• RSE workers sometimes feel powerless to bring

about change – where to start?• Awhi can help focus productive activity


Business Enterprise

• Small business start-ups are popular• Many lack knowledge and skills• Economic benefits to communities can be huge• New money (eg from tourism) adds more to a

community than recycled revenue


Ongoing Support• Mentoring and follow up are essential• Awhi aims to link graduates with a

network of support agents• Original concept was to provide on-

the-ground support• This is a work in progress


How It Works• Vakameasina is overseen by a governance group• The Stakeholder Liaison Group considers Awhi proposals• Approval for training is granted on condition of the

application meeting set criteria• Financially sustainable • Environmentally sound• Ethically robust


Benefits• Individuals benefit from • Training• Empowerment• Potential financial independence

• Communities benefit from • Projects• Improved facilities


Components• Main outcome is the development of a business plan• This includes (main points only):• What the business or project is all about• Who will be the market/beneficiaries• Marketing/publicity• Mission/vision• Risk management• Financials etc


Introducing Graduates• Two graduates of the Awhi programme• Uiti Lagavale and Sam Laki• Both took part in an Awhi course in Hastings, New

Zealand• They have come to share their impressions of the

course


Questions

The website address is:

www.vakameasina.co.nz

http://vakameasinaportal.weebly.com/index.html

Documents

© 2012 Fruition Horticulture Vakameasina – now and the future Presentation to RSE Conference Presented bySandy Scarrow, Colin Carson and othersJuly 2015