Kavita Lata

Kavita is the Programme Assistant for the Ecumenical Centre for Research and Advocacy, an organisation working to help disadvantaged communities, particularly involving poverty and squatter issues. Because of increasing awareness and demand for empowerment by the people, the work of the organisation in the communities has been extensively expanded resulting in the formation of the ‘Peoples Community Network’ consisting of thirty communities and over three thousand people in the network. The organisation is lobbying the government for better rights to housing and essential services/water, electricity, sewerage, better health, education facilities for the disadvantaged sectors of Fiji. It is working closely with the different ministries of the government particularly the Ministry of Local Government Housing and Squatter Development Unit as well as with other local NGOs and with Thailand’s CODI organization in improving the living standards of squatter settlements. , Kavita works on economic, political and social issues within the Economic Justice Program at ECREA. Kavita and her colleagues are actively engaged at the grassroots in poor urban communities to identify empowering strategies particularly in regard to improved living conditions and land security. The growth of informal settlements around Suva is exacerbated by Fiji’s land ownership problems. Kavita’s recent focus has been on housing rights of squatters liaising closely with Fiji Human Rights Commission and carrying out research work for UNDP on the Fiji Poverty Report 2007. She believes this training will enhance hr capacity to work effectively with marginalized and disenfranchised communities.