VOLUNTEER IN FIJI

By Rosalyn King, GVI Fiji Alumni

Fiji lies in the heart of the Pacific Ocean on the International Date line and is an archipelago of over 300 lush tropical islands. Working in Fiji is truly a pleasure. It is famous for its white sandy beaches, lined with palm trees and for the rich diving and snorkelling experiences which can be found exploring the colourful soft coral reefs, rich with marine life, accessible directly from the beaches, or for deeper dives, just a short boat ride away. This is the perfect location for anyone interested in pacific island volunteering.

Fiji is a leader in eco-tourism, managing its land and marine environments to achieve maximum sustainability. When you volunteer abroad in Fiji you’ll get to contribute to that sustainability while exploring the islands, soaking up the sun on beaches, cruising the seas to remote, secluded coves and bays, and experience spectacular diving!

Volunteer Projects in Fiji

There are plenty of volunteer opportunities in Fiji with GVI. The hard part is deciding where to volunteer in Fiji.

They have bases in two areas where you can volunteer in Fiji, have a gap year in Fiji, or do community service in Fiji. The first is a remote village of Silana in the Dawasamu District of Tailevu Province on the north-eastern coast of the main island of Viti Levu, where you can join our Education or Community Projects. Or, you can travel out to the small island of Caqalai (pronounced ‘than-ga-lai’) which is part of the Lomaiviti Island group. Here GVI has volunteer opportunities and marine conservation volunteering so participants can learn to dive and take part in vital marine monitoring operations as a member of our Marine Conservation project.

Volunteer programs in Fiji could have you volunteer with children in Fiji on a range of community development projects. The volunteer teaching in Fiji project focuses on both improving the English language skills of the students as well as enriching their educational experience by providing materials and expertise to deliver lessons in PE, art and craft and music. English is the language in which they are taught and must pass their exams, but it is not their native tongue and is not spoken at home, thus many students are failing due to lack of second language abilities affecting their learning in all subjects. The volunteer teaching programs in Fiji work in collaboration with the school staff. Our project leaders have implemented standardised methods of measuring the children’s abilities and progress and follow a set programme to ensure a smooth educational transition for the students as our volunteer workforce changes.

Our community volunteer work in Fiji projects are continually progressing. Since GVI have been in the village the burn pits which used to exist by every house are now gone, with just one small pit being used on the edge of the village; recycling the majority of waste is now routine with the villagers themselves entirely running this operation. When necessary GVI runs volunteer building projects in Fiji to help improve local infrastructure. Tanks to harvest natural rain-water have been installed giving a much greater capacity to the villages and many income generating schemes are underway in the local community with plans for the ladies to travel to other villages further afield to teach their skills to other local communities. The latest development in our community project is running in conjunction with the expertise of the marine conservation team and involves harvesting seaweed; some members of the community team will join them on the island of Caqalai.

Join our marine conservation volunteering in Fiji project and live amongst the palm trees on this tiny lush island, which you can walk around in 15 minutes, surrounded by clear blue waters and an extensive soft coral reef system. Dive daily to collect data to help Fijian environmental organisations decide future marine and conservation policies, while also enjoying the personal amazing diving experiences of this beautiful area. On this project, you will also make regular visits to schools and communities on the larger neighboring island of Moturiki, to help educate the students and villagers about conservation and the environmental factors which are threatening our habitats. You might also be part of the team currently working on an initiative with villagers and our community team, to develop a system of harvesting seaweed.

Life in Fiji

Volunteering overseers in Fiji is definitely something you should try, even if just for the quality of life. The warmth of the weather in Fiji means life is lived at a slower pace than many volunteers will so far have experienced, life is much less stressful, however projects do run to a timetable which needs to be met to ensure the progress and success of the project. In Silana you will live with other volunteers in shared Bures (palm leaf roofed huts) built alongside the village houses. Each volunteer will also be adopted by a family and for not only your stay, but for the rest of your life they will consider you to be a part of their family. Most meals are prepared and eaten by and with the volunteers, but Fijians pride themselves on their hospitality, their doors are always open and they hope you will spend time with them, playing with the children, learning to cook their traditional dishes or how to weave mats, and talking with them, sharing your experiences of life in your own country.

You will leave promptly each day to take part in your projects and will work hard during the day, but at the end of the day you will return to this idyllic location, might swim in the sea, play with children on the beach, catch up on chores, or join your family or other volunteers for social activities.

Life on the marine project involves living in similar shared Bures and dormitory accommodation. One or two weather-dependent daily dives will be interspersed with lessons in which you will learn to identify the wide variety of corals, invertebrates and fish on which you will be collecting data, maintenance of the boat and diving equipment and general camp chores including meal preparation. You will also spend time planning the environmental lessons and activities that you will be running on your visits into the communities on Moturiki, as well as having social time with other volunteers in the evenings.

Free Time in Fiji

Your hard work of the week will be rewarded with time off at weekends in which you are free to simply relax at the base, or take yourself off to experience some of the other delights to be found in Fiji. From Silana you can book a space on the village boat to take a trip to Moon Reef, where you will see the resident pod of spinner dolphins, at the right time of year might even catch a glimpse of a humpback whale. Or arrange a group and a guide for an early morning trek up ‘Top Peak’ one of the highest points in Fiji and he backdrop to the village.

Venture off to the capital of Suva, by bus from Dawasamu district or boat and bus from Caqalai. Here you can stay in a hostel and dance the night away in the clubs, shop for traditional clothing and presents, enjoy the restaurants and stock up on your personal supplies. Alternatively treat yourself to a stay in one of the upmarket hotels, visit the spa and treat yourself to massages and beauty therapy sessions.

You might prefer to take a weekend break on the at a resort on the southern Coral Coast of Viti Levu. Swim in hotel pools and relax in spas, snorkel, canoe or dive off the beaches or dive with sharks; or meet up with volunteers from other projects in backpackers lodges, socialise, compete in quizzes or play beach volleyball or snooker together.

From this area you can hire beach buggies or join groups to travel inland a little for white water rafting on the Upper Navua River, or to visit waterfalls and traditional villages where you will experience dancing demonstrations and kava drinking ceremonies.

By boat from Caqalai or ferry from Natovi on Viti Levu, visit the island of Ovalau, where you will find the old capital of Fiji, the colonial town of Levuka. Here you will still find the warm hospitality of the native Fijians, churches, old buildings some recently refurbished others in need of care and attention and evidence of the fishing and canning industry. A bus service can take you a scenic journey along the one road that encircles the whole island

On a longer break from your project or if holidaying at the end of your time volunteering in Fiji, you will use the airport at Nadi. From here you can visit the local Botanical Gardens or the Sri Siva Subramaniya temple, or if you want to be more active perhaps go to the zip-lining center or do a parachute jump. If you have a longer time to spend visit the Denaru Island resort from where day trips, island-hopping ferries and cruises leave to take you to the Yasawa Islands and many smaller island resorts, dive sites and even ‘Castaway’ Island where Tom Hanks made the film of the same name.

Flights can be boarded in Nadi for visits to further away islands including the many secluded resorts favored by honeymooners and those wanting romantic getaways.

Summary

Volunteer work in Fiji is a great way to make a difference and see a beautiful area. From Fiji community service trips to summer volunteering in Fiji, you will have an amazing time. Whatever your interests for both your volunteering project and free-time adventures, Fiji will full-fill your dreams. The beauty of the islands, warmth of the weather, taste of the food and hospitality of the community will win your heart and give you the experience of a life-time. Few other places can provide this winning combination of all the elements you could wish for in one place.