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From Darkness to Light The highlight of our latest visit to Fiji was the opening of the kindergarten at Nabukelevuira on the island of Kadavu. Apart from this being our fourth Sunny Smiles kindergarten and providing pre-school education for children in an area with no access to such facilities, this project was particularly special, as it was in memory of Sera (a Fijian lady married to Geoff, an Englishman) and her 3 year-old granddaughter Iva, both of whom tragically died in a car accident just over a year ago. Geoff and his son came over for the occasion. For much of our boat journey to the village we were accompanied by dolphins and flying fish! We had a formal ceremony and were garlanded with segagigia flowers that only bloom in the village of Nabukelevuira. After prayers and speeches of welcome, Geoff described the unbearable darkness the family had suffered. He spoke about Sera and Iva, and described the kindergarten as the light that had come out of the darkness. After a prayer of condolence and a minute’s silence, we played a very appropriate song that we’d had composed for the occasion. The kindergarten was opened and we were entertained by the children. At the end of the day, the whole village gathered on the beach. What a wonderful day, not just for us but even more for Geoff and his son
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New tiles being laid for the Early Intervention Centre On the Tiles Shortly after our arrival in Fiji, the eastern side of the main island suffered severe flash flooding. One place that was badly affected by this was an Early Intervention Centre, where young children with extreme disabilities are given specialist education. The flooding at the EIC caused extensive damage to much of the equipment and the carpets, so the facility had to be closed down temporarily. We were able to put out an appeal via the internet and as a result were able to pay for the whole area to be tiled, as well as replace some of the damaged resources.
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Island visits
As always, much of our time was spent travelling between islands to make school visits, check up on projects and earmark locations for potential future projects. We took books, stationery and first aid kits to numerous schools throughout the islands, pre-school resources to kindergartens, talking books for the Fiji School for the Blind, items of sports equipment for children with special needs at Sigatoka Special School and large quantities of medical equipment and medical books for those treating children at the hospitals or nursing stations on the island of Ovalau.
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In front of Nabukelevuira Sunny Smiles kindergarten with Geoff and his son Paul
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Anyone wishing to make a donation to Children of Fiji can do so by contacting us directly , paying online (go to www.childrenoffiji.co.uk and click on ‘Donate Now’ ) or by paying directly into the Children of Fiji Bank Account,: Barclays Bank Plc Sort Code 20-26-62 Account number 10464007
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Just two days after arriving in Fiji, we were special guests at the wedding of Poonam and Michael. Poonam was one of the children at St Christopher’s Children’s Home when we first visited Fiji and so it is a real pleasure for us to see her so happy and fulfilled. We wish them both all the very best for their future together.
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Children of Fiji’ can be contacted by tel. 01300 320433 e-mail info@dynamicduo.co.uk |
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