Paper Makers

The handmade paper project in Fiji was initiated by Pure Fiji to provide an income to villagers in isolated villages.

Paper is made from cellulose found in plant fibre which is literally beaten to a pulp and dispersed in water. This fibre, the main ingredient of paper, is sourced in different forms from bark, leaf, and grass of local plants and trees.

The paper making project is almost entirely run by the women of these rural communities, empowering them in ways they have never experienced before. The husbands and sons of some of the women help in the gathering of materials, preparation of the pulp.

Pure Fiji uses the paper for packaging soaps and in the production of exquisite stationary items.
With this money they have been able to expand their paper making facilities with a new drying house and generator, and create an ongoing fund for improving the equipment used in making paper.

Now they can afford school fees and have made improvements to the local primary school and this year they are building additional classrooms. Perhaps the greatest long-term goal the community has recently achieved is the building and setting up of a village store. This is complete with a refrigerator and deep freezer that are powered by a generator also purchased by?the women. This brings in additional income from trade with surrounding villages and the benefit of being able to preserve meat and other produce. This has brought about a more balanced diet for the entire community throughout the year.

The latest milestone achieved has been the construction of additional classrooms for a secondary school and a library. Now 150 children from the paper making village and neighbouring villages have access to higher education. Pure Fiji is delighted with this development and has assisted with the construction of this facility.