Teitoiningaina is the National Catholic Women’s Association of Kiribati. The association aims to empower and equip women in the community, reduce poverty and build food security and climate change resilience. In particular, Teitoiningaina offers nutrition, cooking, and handicraft classes from its headquarters in Teoraereke; implements nutrition and healthy living programmes throughout the atolls through the Teitoiningaina Kiribati Health Champions; and promotes family healthcare programmes. Its facilities include a kitchen, craft shop, offices, training and sewing rooms, and vegetable gardens. Located in South Tarawa, Kiribati’s populous capital, the faith-based organisation has a direct impact on the lives of its over 35,000 members across the country.
While Teitoiningaina has a tangible impact on the community through its activities, it currently needs a clearer vision, mission and strategic plan to guide its future development.
VSA volunteer Matthew Power took up an assignment as an Organisational Development Advisor at Teitoiningaina in September 2023. His assignment was geared towards updating the organisation’s strategic plan for 2022-2026 – and indeed, over the course of his eight months at Teitoiningaina, the organisation began drafting this document. The strategic development plan aims to bring Teitoiningaina’s goals in line with the broader objectives of Kiribati’s 20-year vision development plan 2016-2036 (KV20).
The plan was not completed while Matthew was in Kiribati. However, Teitoiningaina Director Ioanna Taraia explains that Teitoiningaina members have been empowered to continue their work. ‘We all worked together with Matthew who explained everything on how to do a strategic plan,’ she says. ‘That’s our first experience on how to come up with ideas on the plan. Our executive members are now capable of continuing the work from where Matthew stopped.’
Matthew and partner Kirsty in Kiribati.
As a result of Matthew’s sharing of knowledge – particularly around Microsoft Office, internet use, and accounting applications – Ioanna says Teitoiningaina staff have significantly developed their skills and confidence. In particular, the organisation’s finance officer is now able to do the accounts and reconcile them with bank statements quickly on the computer, and Teitoiningaina’s data officer learnt how to promote programmes on Facebook, resulting in a better reach and profile across Kiribati.
Additionally, thousands of women the organisation supports will get to enjoy learning to cook healthy food for their families at Teitoiningaina’s newly upgraded kitchen in the near future. According to Ioanna, ‘One of the highlights from Matthew’s contribution is that the organisation managed to get donor funding from DFAT. We managed to get funds for setting up an upgrade for our kitchen, procurement of new cooking equipment and for cooking training.’
She explains that during past years, Teitoiningaina had never managed to secure donor funding and she believes one reason is to do with lack of knowledge and experience around completing grant templates among the organisation staff. The funding to support the upgrading of the training kitchen will have an impact on the livelihoods of the thousands of women who will benefit from Teitoiningaina’s training on healthy cooking.
Ultimately, the impact of Matthew’s work is not only towards Teitoiningaina but extends to the wider network of women and youth Teitoiningaina supports. As Ioanna says, ‘When they go back to their respective communities and women’s groups, they will be able to pass on what they have learnt from their trainings here.’
As for Matthew, the experience of working at Teitoiningaina was ‘a really positive experience’. Not only was it a great experience being able to help such a significant organisation, he enjoyed learning about Kiribati’s culture and getting to know the locals. ‘I hadn’t been to Kiribati before this role,’ Matthew explains. ‘But there were so many highlights – particularly discussing different ways of life with Teitoiningaina’s director and attending some of the festival celebrations.’
‘I hadn’t realised the amount of international development that goes into the Pacific. It was really great to be part of that joint effort.’