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.