PRESS RELEASE
Lautoka, FIJI – A book on the developmental work of the Lautoka-based non- government organisation (NGO), the Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises & Development (FRIEND) in communities on the West Coast of Viti Levu is to be launched this Wednesday.
Called the “D Book”, D standing for “Dreaming, Daring Delivering,” the book is a collection of impact stories of FRIEND’s work on about 30 women, men including youth who are physically challenged (deaf and mute), students and reformed prisoners. The Lautoka-based NGO contracted veteran journalist and communication consultant, Samisoni Pareti to author the 100-page book.
“I had little inkling of the huge effort that is involved in book production when I took up the publishing contract, but I did know that FRIEND was and continues to be a great servant of the community it is dedicated to serve,” Mr Pareti wrote in ‘D Book’s’ acknowledgment.
“D Book is really about people in the community – many if not all of them unknown to the whole lot of us. Yet quietly but determinedly, they work hard each day to provide for their families and their communities, not because they are paid to do so, or because they will get an honourary medal for it, or even have a book written about them, but because that is what they want to do,” adds Mr Pareti.
FRIEND published ‘D Book’ under the sponsorship of AusAID and acting Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, Mr Glenn Miles will be Chief Guest at the launch of D Book at the Pacific Theological College (PTC) on Vuya Road at 10am on Wednesday 13th February, 2013.
About FRIEND:
Founded in 2001 by journalist-turned development worker Sashi Kiran, the Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises & Development is a development NGO based in Lautoka in Fiji. FRIEND’s dream is a Fiji without poverty, where all enjoy sustainable livelihoods brought about through social and economic empowerment, participations and linking resources to opportunities for development; a Fiji where communities take ownership and responsibility for their own development.