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ACHIEVEMENTS |
January
2000 We returned to England following our first five week stay helping at St Christopher's Children's Home
in Fiji (a children's home catering for some 45 or so children of ages ranging
from a few months to late teens. Several being orphans or victims of domestic
violence) we began a fund raising campaign.
In March 2000 the first consignment of about
150kg of clothes was flown out to the children's home free of charge by a
courier firm.
In July 2000 we took some 450kg of books and
stationery to a shipping company depot. This company then transported the goods
very cheaply on a six-week sea journey to the port of Suva in Fiji where they
were stored prior to our arrival.
In August 2000 we delivered 250 kg of toys to
Heathrow airport where an airline company flew them to Nadi airport in Fiji at a very much subsidised rate. They were stored at the airport for us to collect
when we arrived in the country.
September 2000 'Children of Fiji' becomes a registered charity in the UK (reg. no. 1082331)
In September 2000 we flew to Fiji (at our own
expense) and used a hire vehicle to collect the goods from the sea port and the
airport.
We used St Christopher's Children's Home as a
base. At the home we spent our first few weeks teaching the children and
decorating parts of the home. We were able to help equip a library with several
of the books sent over from England and we repainted the nursery and brightened
it up with mobiles, posters and toys. We also converted an old storeroom
(having first got rid of the rats and cockroaches!) into a quiet activity room.
We put up shelving, pin board, blackboard and provided storage units, which we
filled with a number of games and craft activities (We therefore completed
the pledge made to ITV year of promise).
Several weeks were spent visiting schools
where we were able to begin to meet some of the immediate needs. We provided
exercise books, paper, pencils and reading books. Many of the schools had few
resources and in a large number of schools children were still using slates to
write on. We spoke at length with teachers and educational authorities to prioritise
the needs.
We visited many remote villages (some only accessible by horse!) and were able to provide clothing and toys for the children.
April
2001 To mark the charity's provision of a learning area at St
Christopher's Children's Home in Fiji a plaque was placed on a seat at Snowdon
Mountain Railway station, Llanberis, North Wales.
April 2001 Plans are now being drawn up for the construction of our first ‘Sunny Smiles’ kindergarten in Fiji.
June 2001 The kindergarten plans are approved by the Ministry for Education and Town planning
July 6th 2001 Prayers and celebrations at the school to mark the digging of the kindergarten foundations.
August 16th 2001. Almost one ton of charity supplies is flown to Fiji at a greatly subsidised rate, thanks to the generosity of Qantas and Air Pacific. These supplies are to directly benefit the children of Fiji (stationery, books, toys and clothes).
September 1st 2001 to October 13th 2001. We left England ready for the next 6 or 7 weeks trip to Fiji. We visited 35 rural schools, many almost inaccessible. We provided stationery and books, and shared our teaching experiences with the staff. We visited villages and were able to distribute clothes and toys. We were there for the official opening of the kindergarten built with Children of Fiji funds.
October 10th 2001. This was the official opening of the Sunny Smiles kindergarten that the charity funded ($42,000). The opening was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Muslim, Hindu and Christian faiths, the British High Commission and the school management team. A truly multicultural day!
November 5th 2001 We had a very informative meeting at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with the British High Commissioner for Fiji.
March 10th 2002 The results of the initial survey are received from the surveyors of the Labasa Lions Club for the site of the proposed bridge across the Qelemumu River.
August 19th 2002 About a ton of supplies was flown out to Fiji by Qantas and Air Pacific at a greatly subsidised rate. These items (stationery, books, clothes, toys) will soon be distributed to disadvantaged children in Fiji.
August 29th 2002 Children of Fiji applies to become a registered charity in Fiji
Sept 1st 2002 to October 19th 2002 We spent about 8 weeks visiting and equipping about 35 schools. We also visited and provided resources for 2 special schools, 2 children's homes and the children's wards of 2 hospitals.
Sept 11th 2002 Children of Fiji becomes a registered charity in Fiji (reg. no. 630)
Sept 2002 We manage to equip the science lab of Nakasi High School.
October 10th 2002 Children of Fiji is invited by the Minister of Health to attend the World Health Day Conference on 'The effects of Trauma and Violence on Children'. Along with 'Children of Fiji' were representatives from the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and Save the Children
October 16th 2002 Japanese engineers begin to draw up plans for the Qelemumu Bridge
January 29th 2003 Children of Fiji sends out a consignment of emergency resources to schools hit by Cyclone Ami (thanks to Bankline Shipping for free transport)
March 7th 2003 BBC South - Community Champions 2003. Award presented by Esther Rantzen at the De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel, Southampton (see photo)
March 20th 2003 Final plans and detailed costings for the construction of the Qelemumu Bridge are produced
July5th 2003 Voted in as honorary members of the Fijian Association (EU) at a meeting held at the Heathrow Park Hotel, London (see photo)
July16th 2003 A ton of resources sets sail from Tilbury Dock to Fiji (thanks to Confreight UK for free transport)
August 25th 2003 A ton of resources is flown from Heathrow to Fiji (thanks to Qantas for free transport)
September/October 2003 We spent about 8 weeks visiting and providing resources for 42 schools, 4 children's homes and the children's departments of 4 hospitals.
October 25th 2003 Somerset WI's carried out a shoe-box campaign for Christmas gifts and we collected over 250 of these for distribution to children in Fiji.
November 1st 2003 Thanks to Children of Fiji, Navitilevu District School now has its own fibre-glass boat with outboard motor to transport children across the bay (instead of them having to swim)
November 19th 2003 The shoe-boxes donated by Somerset WI were delivered to Tilbury Docks for shipment to Fiji (free transport by Confreight UK). These will bring Christmas happiness to many disadvantaged children.
January 29th 2004 The shoe-boxes arrive in Fiji and are distributed to disadvantaged children.
March 10th 2004 The construction of two 5000 gallon water storage tanks at Qelemumu Primary School is completed and the children now have access to safe, clean water.
April 20th 2004 We guest on BBC Radio to promote the work of Children of Fiji
July 2004 Three tons of resources are sent out to Fiji ready for us to personally distribute to schools, children's homes and hospitals.
September 2004 It is decided to upgrade the Qelemumu bridge to a vehicular crossing. This will enable children from Qelemumu school to have access to secondary education. It also opens up an area of land for development.
September 2004 Children of Fiji sponsors the provision of 25 copies of the Kaila weekly newspaper to both Wainibuka Junior High School and Nayala High School. This sponsorship will be renewed annually.
Sept/Oct 2004 Two 5000 gallon water tanks at provided at each of 4 schools (Mali Island District School, Ratu Ilaisa Memorial School, Nalova Sangham School and Lomawai Secondary School. All these children now have access to clean, safe drinking water.
Oct 2004 We provide 30 lifejackets for the children of Navitilevu School.
November 2004 Qelemumu bridge is completed and children now have a safe crossing over the river.
February 2005 The construction of a library at Vatuwaqa school is completed
March 2005 Construction of the Kaleli crossing begins
August 2005 Fresh water is provided at Nacaci Hindu School. Furniture is provided for Adi Eleni Primary School and outdoor play equipment is provided for the 7 kindergartens.
September 2005 We begin to distribute over three tons of resources to schools, children's homes and hospitals.
September 2005 The Kaleli crossing bridge is officially opened.
September 2005 We provide much needed resources (tactile toys and books, Braille schemes and books, talking calculators and tactile/Braille games for the Fiji School for the Blind. A Braille machine, musical instruments and other resources have been promised for September 2006
October 2005 A play area is developed at the children's ward of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital. It is brightly decorated and we provided play items, blackboard, book shelving, toy cupboard, mats and cushions and a mobile book trolley.
January 2006 A bore hole is completed at Sigatoka Valley Junior School to provide fresh water.
February 2006 Provision of a 19ft fibre glass boat and outboard motor for use by Rewa Secondary School and Nailili Catholic School. This will enable children from outlying islands and other communities along the banks of the Rewa to be able to get to and from school safely.
August 2006 Construction of a sanitation block at Ahmadiyya Muslim Secondary School begins. Due to be completed around November 2006
Sept/Oct 2006 Over 3 tons of resources distributed to schools and children's homes. Specialist equipment provided for The Fiji School for the Blind (Braille machine, books, toys, games and numerous musical instruments). Shower chair provided for the Frank Hilton School for handicapped (plus a second shower chair for the hostel). Cots provided for the Treasure House Orphanage
Sept 2006 The new dormitory at Navitilevu school is completed
October 2006 We have identified a site for our new kindergarten construction. The land has been negotiated and permission obtained from the mataqali. We await clearance from the Native Land Trust Board before construction can begin.
Nov 2006 Provision of 28 lifejackets for the children using the Rewa River boat
January 2007 The Ahmadiyya sanitation project is completed.
January 2007 The project to pipe water down the mountainside and provide Navolau No. 1 school and village with fresh water is completed. Children now have clean water readily available and the school is able to remain open.
January 2007 Fresh water storage tanks are constructed at Bouma School to provide these children with a supply of clean water for drinking/sanitation.
February 2007 Construction begins to utilise solar energy at Ahmadiyya Muslim School
February 2007 Emergency relief is provided for the Northern Division because of the recent major flooding in the area.
February 2007 Construction of Sunny Smiles II begins at Naduri on the island of Vanua Levu
February 2007 Copies of the new 'English Dictionary for Fiji' are supplied for 10 rural schools (and distributed on behalf of the charity by the Fiji Times)
March 2007 Solar project at Ahmadiyya Muslim School is completed. They now have light!!
March 2007 We are pleased to have been short-listed to the final three for the Institute of Fundraising National Award 'Fundraisers of the Year' and look forward to the final results at a ceremony in London on July 9th. (Update: We came 2nd)
June 2007 Construction of our second kindergarten (Sunny Smiles 2) is completed at Naduri, Macuata, Vanua Levu.
June 2007 Construction of water storage tank at Vuna District School, Taveuni, is completed.
July 2007 Construction of water tank at Koroinasolo Village School in Bua is completed.
Sept/Oct 2007 We spent two months in Fiji distributing 3 tons of resources to schools, hospitals and children's homes. We visited Ahmadiyya School and saw the solar power project working. We also saw the freshwater and sanitation projects and the huge differences these are making to the children in terms of health and education. We spent a lovely day at our recently completed kindergarten 'Naduri Sunny Smiles' We visited our 3 recent freshwater projects at Bouma, Vuna and Koroinasolo
Oct 2007 We have identified a need for freshwater and sanitation at Rakiraki Primary School and fresh water at several other schools- See current appeals
Nov. 2007 Work begins on the upgrading of water availability at Lomaivuna Primary School
Dec. 2007 After 13 months of uncertainty, we are pleased to say that we have been able to organise surgical reconstructive surgery for a 14 year old girl suffering from a severe genetic facial deformity. Surgeons here in the UK will give their services free of charge and the charity 'Facing the World' will provide free return flights to the UK for the girl and her mum and also pay for their accommodation. It is envisaged that the surgical procedures will take up to 8 months. We are currently organising the visas. We will keep you updated on the progress of this wonderful project.
January 2008 Shayna and her mum have arrived in the UK and Shayna has had all her medical tests. Surgery starts on Jan 19th (12 hour operation). This is the start of 6 to 8 months of intensive surgery. January 19th: The surgeons have just come out from theatre and are happy the way the surgery has gone. She is recovering from the first round of surgery and awaiting the second phase (April)
February 2008 We spent 6 weeks in Fiji distributing more resources. We visited our latest kindergarten and made plans for the next one (on the island of Ono). We finalised the plans for the sanitation project at Rakiraki.
March 2008 Construction begins for fresh water supply to Joan of Arc School, Sigatoka.
Work begins on the provision of fresh water for Rakiraki Primary School and construction of their new sanitary block
May 2008 Fresh water storage tanks are completed at Joan of Arc School and at Rakiraki School
June 2008 Shayna has the last of her operations.
July 2008 Shayna and her mum fly back to Fiji
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