Koroipita poverty alleviation program

The “Koroipita Orchid Project,” which began in 2007, was essentially an extension of the South Sea Orchids (SSO) out-grower program. Koroipita, now known as the “Model Towns Charitable Trust” (MTCT), is a community consisting of residents who are among the most disadvantaged in the country. It was founded by Peter Drysdale, who was affiliated with the Rotary Club of Lautoka at the time. Since its inception, Koroipita has been funded by numerous donor agencies.

Koroipita’s mission is committed to:

• Building engineered and serviced subdivisions and cyclone-safe houses.
• Providing guidance and support for the advancement of poor families.
• Offering solutions for managing rural-to-urban migration and the resettlement of climate change and other refugees.
• Focusing on cost-effective, safe housing and family advancement in a clean and green environment.

Additionally, Koroipita conducts various income-generating programs, one of which is the “Koroipita Orchid Project.”

As the SSO out-grower project gained popularity, Peter Drysdale learned of it and wondered if it could be adapted for some of the residents at Koroipita. In 2007, SSO and Koroipita:

• Approached AusAID to see if they would fund such a project.
• Developed a plan to build 17 new orchid nurseries, each housing 200 plants, situated close to the residents’ homes.
• Organized multiple workshops, especially since many of the participants were illiterate.
• Assigned a field officer to oversee the project, which spanned a total of two years.

It is also important to note that we were approached by another housing assistance organization called the Housing Assistance and Relief Trust (HART). Based on the success of the Koroipita Orchid Project, we:

• Applied to AusAID for an extension to replicate the project in another community.
• Successfully received funding, allowing for the creation of orchid nurseries for 15 homes in the HART Lovu village.

Unfortunately, some of the people involved in the management of the HART community later felt that they could run the program better and market their own flowers. The project, which started in 2008, saw these individuals decide to leave 5 years later.

Today, the project still includes participants who originally joined in 2007. It has:

• Generated numerous success stories.
• Significantly advanced many families within the community over the years.

In 2022, the Koroipita Orchid Project was further expanded with:

• The introduction of another 17 nurseries, funded by a partnership between the Business Partnership Platform (BPP), South Sea Orchids (SSO), and the Floriculture Support Association (FSA).
• Continued support from SSO, co-funded by the Farmers’ Organizations for Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific (FO4ACP) project, with contributions from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network (PIFON).

The project continues to thrive, thanks to the dedicated team at MTCT and ongoing support from SSO.