LWCC marks 30 years as a service provider and bold public advocate for women and girls

24 Nov, 2024

The Labasa Women’s Crisis Centre was formally established in 1995 through the dedication and commitment of a woman from Dreketi named Bimla Singh, along with Rinieta Ratawa and other women.

Even before it was formally established as a branch of FWCC, much work had gone into preparing the foundation through training, community talks and counselling sessions. The Centre’s roots go back to four years before its registration, when Bimla and others attended the first national Conference Against Violence Against Women at Deuba by FWCC in 1991.

For several years after that, they used Bimla’s home and telephone as their contact to counsel women, accompany them to court, conduct fundraising activities, give community, and school talks.

The Centre was officially opened in 1995 in rented rooms with the support of Canada Fund, through the assistance of Diane Goodwillie.

Afterward, for more than 25 years, LWCC has been funded by New Zealand’s MFAT.

LWCC is now firmly established as the premier service provider in Vanua Levu for survivors of violence against women, girls, and children

Today, the Labasa Women’s Crisis Centre is run as a collective, with full-time staff and volunteers and its own premises opened on 25th November 2016.  The new building at Naiyaca Subdivision and a vehicle were funded by the Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).