Report on latest visit Sept and October 2010 (photos to follow)

Having just returned from Fiji and beginning to cope with the drastic drop in temperature, we are now able to reflect on all we managed to achieve over the past 7 or 8 weeks. We both agree that it has been a particularly fulfilling visit, in which we were able to accomplish all we set out to do ... and much more.

As always, we sent resources (about 2 tons in total) out in advance and were able to collect most of these on our arrival in Fiji and deliver them personally. One of our consignments, however, took a rather circuitous route and turned up only about 10 days before the end of our visit and so it was a mammoth task to distribute everything to the right places in the time we had remaining. The boxes mostly contained books and stationery for schools, ‘baby boxes’ for new mothers in hospitals, pre-school resources for kindergartens and a large quantity of medical supplies for health centres and nursing stations on the island of Ovalau.

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 special needs are given specialist education. This is a relatively new direction in Fiji and in fact the recognition of the importance of educating children with physical and/or mental disabilities is due largely to Frank Hilton, an Englishman now in his nineties who set up the country’s first special school in the capital. 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.

We visited the Fiji School for the Blind, where on this occasion we donated large quantities of talking books for the children. We also made a return visit to the John Wesley College, where in March we delivered rugby shirts that had been donated by Dorchester Rugby Club. We were delighted to see the boys still making good use of the green and white striped shirts and also very keen to form a link with the club.

We called in at hospitals on the island of Viti Levu with the baby boxes donated by the Ivy Club in Maiden Newton and Rodwell WI. As always, the mothers were delighted to open their boxes and find such items as baby clothes, blankets, toys and toiletries.

Apart from visiting schools on the main island, we went to many schools on the islands of Ovalau and Moturiki, where we were able to help out with basic resources. We also spoke to the medical officer on the island and he was delighted to accept the boxes of medical resources, including such items as stethoscopes, weighing scales, dressings, syringes, Doppler machines and other pieces of specialist equipment for carrying out routine examinations.

The highlight of this visit was always going to be the opening of the kindergarten at Nabukelevu-i-Ra on the island of Kadavu. Apart from the fact that this is our fourth Sunny Smiles kindergarten and has provided pre-school education for children in an area with no access to such facilities, this project was particularly important for another reason. It was constructed in memory of Sera (a Fijian lady married to Geoff, originally from the UK) and her 3 year-old granddaughter Iva, both of whom tragically lost their lives in a car accident in New Zealand just over a year ago.

Geoff and his son Paul accompanied us on our journey to Kadavu. His daughter, Lini (mother of Iva), was hoping to come over from the UK with her partner Jeff and close friend. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks before and underwent an operation just the day before the kindergarten opening. They are planning to make the journey in December instead

We travelled to Kadavu on the Friday, ready for the opening ceremony the following day. We set off by small boat early on Saturday morning. The sun was shining and for much of the journey we were accompanied by dolphins and flying fish! We all felt that this was a good omen for the day to come. We arrived at the beach and waded ashore. We then walked up to the village, where we were made so welcome by everyone. Then we walked down to the school and had the first glimpse of the kindergarten – it looked tremendous!

We changed into the clothes that we’d had made especially for the occasion. Then the formal ceremony began. There were prayers and the flag ceremony, followed by the Fiji national anthem. We were garlanded with flowers that are only found in the village of Nabukelevu-i-Ra. Then there were welcome speeches and Geoff made a speech in which he described the unbearable darkness the family had suffered a year ago. He spoke about Sera and Iva, and described the kindergarten as the light that had come out of the darkness. There was a prayer of condolence and a minute’s silence, followed by the song that we’d had composed for the occasion. It was a very fitting song celebrating the innocence of childhood, and particularly as it speaks of butterflies (something that Geoff says will always remind him of Iva). This was a very moving part of the ceremony. Afterwards Geoff unveiled a plaque and officially opened the kindergarten. A picture of Sera and Iva was placed on the wall and all the resources we’d donated were put out on display.

Afterwards the mood became much lighter. There was entertainment by the children of the kindergarten and the school, and we were all dragged to our feet and made to join in the dancing. We were given lunch and walked round to chat with some of the villagers. The children were enjoying the new outdoor play equipment. We had to leave at about 4pm because of the tides, so at about 3.30pm we gathered with the chief and elders of the village for a farewell ceremony, a bowl of kava (the traditional drink in Fiji) and the traditional song of farewell. Then the whole village gathered on the beach to see us off. There was more dancing on the beach, but in the end we managed to get away, waded out to the boat and set off. They all carried on waving until we were out of sight! What a wonderful day, not just for us but particularly for Geoff and his son. The school has decided to remember Sera and Iva in a special ceremony each year on October 16^th and Geoff is hoping to return next year for that.

All in all, this visit was one of our most successful. Apart from all that we achieved in terms of charity work, we also had an opportunity to meet the Fiji national rugby squad and attend one of their meetings. We meet them again in Cardiff when they play against Wales towards the end of November!

We have recently returned from our latest visit to Fiji. We had a hectic time with a few traumas, but overall it was really productive. We managed to achieve all we set out to do and much more besides. Early on we had a major tsunami alert (as a result of the Chilean earthquake). A few weeks later there was flash flooding. Towards the end of our trip Category 4 Tropical Cyclone Tomas struck the Fiji Islands. This caused widespread devastation of many parts of Fiji and a state of emergency was declared. Many houses and schools were completely destroyed and there was loss of life. We have initiated an emergency appeal- please give generously

Around the Suva area, we visited the Hilton Special School and took special tactile sports items to the Early Intervention Centre. We also took another Braille machine to the Fiji School for the Blind and provided 3 sets of rugby kit for the students at The John Wesley College Rugby Academy. These were donated by Dorchester Rugby Club in the UK. The boys immediately donned the shirts and invited us to watch one of their training sessions. The Rugby Academy provides expert training for boys who are not necessarily academically gifted, where they can follow their passion for rugby and receive a general education at the same time.

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We are delighted to discover that the Hindi youth group, for whom we recently provided specialist musical instruments, is thriving and still providing such a good outlet and a focus for young boys who might otherwise be roaming the streets. We were able to provide them with a good quality Bina 11 harmonium.

We have been back to some of the children’s homes where we are regular visitors. At the girls’ home in Mahaffy Drive, we provided CD’s with music that they’d specifically requested. We were also able to deliver replies from their pen-friends back in the UK. We went to the Happy Home armed with a pile of football magazines. After only a few minutes, the boys were all engrossed!

We returned to the Dr Ram Lakhan School, where we had delivered science equipment last October. This time we brought letters from students at the Dorchester Middle School (the school that provided the money for the science equipment) and they were received with great excitement. We happened to arrive at the school as they were celebrating the Indian festival of Holi and we were invited to take part.

We set off very early one Thursday morning to make the long journey by road and sea to Labasa. The following morning we made the 3-hour trip back to Waibunabuna Primary School in Bua for the official opening of our third sanitation project. There followed a wonderful day of speeches, dancing and feasting. We cut the ribbon and the toilet block was finally declared open! The facilities are very smart and so much better than the pit toilet and single open shower that they had previously.

We also looked at the dormitories at Waibunabuna Primary School, where they now have 25 pairs of bunk beds. After seeing on a previous visit how the children used to have to sleep on the floor, we decided to fundraise to give them comfortable beds and a little space they can call their own. The children are very proud of their beds.

We made a visit to Nadi and Lautoka, where we visited some of the UK volunteers (at Sigatoka Special School, Nadi kindergarten and Lautoka Red Cross) and also took boxes for new babies at Lautoka Hospital. The mums were thrilled with the boxes, full of baby clothes, soaps, talcum powder, toys, hairbrushes and baby blankets!

We went to Taveuni and were able to deliver several cartons of medical supplies to Bouma Nursing Station. The dedicated nurse and her team of volunteer village health workers were there to greet us. When we opened the boxes, they were absolutely overwhelmed and the nurse immediately started talking about the difference all the things would make. She couldn't believe that there were Doppler machines - and she said that Bouma was definitely the first place to have forehead thermometers! She was thrilled with the back packs and straightaway began to plan what they could put in them. They regularly have to trek into the remote villages (hitching lifts, crossing rivers and climbing along rough tracks) to monitor pregnant mums and administer treatment. Now they can take spring balances, thermometers, monitoring equipment etc in the backpacks. It will also save the pregnant mums and mums with small children having to make the same difficult journey to the nursing station.
We certainly hope to be able to maintain our links with Bouma Nursing Station and continue to top up supplies from time to time. The nurse there seems such a dedicated professional that we feel that anything donated will be appreciated and used wisely.

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Our last official engagement of this visit was to attend the opening of a study and relaxation area at Nausori High School, where we have been offering support to students and staff over a long period.

Current projects include a kitchen/dining facility at Uluinakorovatu Primary School in Naceva, Beqa. Many of the children attending this school have to walk long distances to get to school, often leaving home early in the morning with no breakfast. Some have inadequate supplies for their lunch and so many of them fall asleep in afternoon classes. The parents have offered to provide hot lunches for all the children, as long as they have cooking facilities and an area for the children to sit and eat. In the long term, it is hoped that these improved facilities will lead to the school being granted boarding status.

Thanks to the collection of Sainbury's vouchers back in the UK, Lovoni School on Ovalau now has a wide variety of sports equipment. 

Our next project is another kindergarten (our fourth kindergarten altogether, the others being in Nakasi, Naduri and Narikoso). This one will be at Nabukelevu-i-Ra on Kadavu and will be erected in memory of a Fijian lady and her little granddaughter, both of whom tragically lost their lives in a car accident. Anyone wishing to support this cause by donating funds towards the project can do so through our website www.childrenoffiji.co.uk

Our next visit to Fiji is already planned for September/October of this year. Before that visit we shall be busy fundraising in order to fund further projects to help children in Fiji. Fundraising events already planned include a ‘progressive meal’ in our village (with people moving from house to house for each course) and a mass balloon release in which over 1,000 multi-coloured helium-filled (and completely bio-degradable) balloons are bought by people at a cost of approximately £1 each and are then released all together – a prize of a hot air balloon ride for two is given to the person whose balloon travels the furthest. We also have 11 people running the Brighton Marathon in April in aid of Children of Fiji. Shortly before our next visit we have a concert of traditional music organised to raise funds.