Gizo Fathers Find New Paths Through CAUSE II’s R4W Programme

GIZO, Western Province — IN Gizo, Western Province, where life moves at a steady pace and opportunities can sometimes be hard to come by, two fathers are finding new ways to support their families after taking part in the CAUSE II Project’s Redi4Waka (R4W) initiative.

For Rajiv Bulehite, the training helped him strengthen a small business he was already running. For Belison Paitovaki, it helped him take an important step towards employment.

Their circumstances were different, but both say the skills and confidence they gained through Redi4Waka have made a real difference.

Building a better business

Rajiv, a father and household head from District on the western side of Gizo, runs a small canteen to support his wife and children.

Before joining Redi4Waka, he struggled with some of the basic financial aspects of running a business, particularly calculating mark-ups and understanding his actual profits. Although his canteen was operating, he found it difficult to grow the business.

That changed after he attended a seven-day Redi4Waka training in August 2025 at the CAUSE II Gizo Project Implementation Unit.

Rajiv said learning how to calculate his costs, set mark-ups and work out his profits gave him a much better understanding of how to manage his business.

He later attended IGMM training, which further strengthened his knowledge of business management.

Today, Rajiv is not only continuing to operate his canteen but has also expanded his business by securing a lock-up shop at Gizo Market. He has also joined a local youth entrepreneurship organization, where he continues to build his business skills and connect with other entrepreneurs.

Rajiv credits CAUSE II and the Redi4Waka initiative for helping him develop the knowledge and confidence to take his business forward.

From job seeker to security officer

For Belison Paitovaki, a father of five from Top Hill, the challenge was finding employment to support his family.

He joined Redi4Waka training in September 2025, where he learned practical skills including how to prepare a CV, write job applications and present himself as a potential employee.

After completing the training, Belison also undertook a 120-hour work placement, giving him valuable practical experience and further building his confidence.

He then applied for a position as a security officer at Gizo Market—and was successful.

Belison is now working at the market as a security officer, providing him with an income and a new opportunity to support his family.

He says he appreciates the skills and knowledge he gained through Redi4Waka, particularly the confidence it gave him to apply for work.

Skills that create opportunities

Rajiv and Belison's stories show two different ways Redi4Waka can help participants move forward.

For Rajiv, it provided the knowledge to better manage and expand an existing business. For Belison, it provided the skills and confidence needed to successfully enter the workforce.

Both outcomes reflect an important goal of the Redi4Waka initiative: helping people turn practical skills into real opportunities—whether through employment or self-employment.

For two fathers in Gizo, that opportunity is already making a difference—not only for them, but for the families who depend on them.

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