FIJI: How Jessica Gounder is working on achieving gender equality in a Covid-19 world

Gender Equality is a human fight, not a female fight,” Frieda Pinto #IWD2021 #ChooseToChallenge #DTGlobal

In continuation of celebrating women in leadership, in business and in our communities during the lead up to International Women’s Day (8th March 2021) we interviewed Jessica Gounder, Communications Office for BLP and the Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation (FCEF) on how she is working to achieve an equitable future in a Covid-19 world.

Jessica Gounder raising her hand high to show her commit to choosing to challenge and call out inequality!

Jessica (26 years old) is the mother of 2-year-old Skylar Iris Savike and Communications Advisor for BLP and FCEF in Fiji. Growing up in Suva, the capital of Fiji, Jessica studied journalism form the Fiji National University and has spent many years as a journalist working for three major media organisations (both in print and radio).

As a journalist, I covered a lot of stories about women in business and the struggles they face when it comes to balancing their businesses with family.

I’m a single mother myself and have encountered many challenges with gender bias and what is expected of you in the community. However, I have also learnt to overcome them by staying strong in my work and calling out gender bias when possible,” says Jessica.

Jessica started working with BLP and the FCEF team in November last year. 

It has been really encouraging to see the number of SMEs seeking help from BLP to access advisory services. Especially given how badly impacted businesses have been from Covid-19,” says Jessica.

In Fiji, we have seen many people, in particular women, take up traditional farming, sewing, cooking and baking to start up new businesses in order to help with the running of the household expenses.

While this has been extremely trying, I believe that this has contributed to creating a more equitable world for women and youth as everyone is pulling together to make ends meet and get support for businesses like that from BLP and the subsideis they offer,” says Jessica.

ENDS

Business Link Pacific recognises the critical role that Gender Equality and social inclusion plays within all spheres and contexts when working with SMEs in the Pacific and it is our aim, across everything we do, to build improved access to essential business advisory services for women youth and other disadvantaged groups as business owners, and help to improve the inclusive approach that businesses take in their operations. To find out more about our work visit: https://about.businesslinkpacific.com/blps-gender-equality-and-social-inclusion-gesi-approach/?fbclid=IwAR3kkBvJyAmQSnLd3gNVumVBtXF4UMi5K8N7iKNlsSESJLoWDrxGYpBd7xI