GVI Fiji January 2015  

 Caqalai  Island  Base  January  2015  Achievement  Report  Objective:  Ensuring  Environmental  Sustainability    

Building  New  Community  Connections    

 

       

GVI  Fiji  began  operations  in  the  Lomaiviti  group  after  establishing  a  base  on  Caqalai  Island  in  October  2014.  With  initiatives  designed  to  enhance  the  long-­‐term  environmental  sustainability  in  terms  of  food  security  and  income  generation  opportunities  the  program  has  focused  on  establishing  and  building  relationships  with  local  community  partners.  These  initial  interaction  are  fundamental  build-­‐ing  blocks  for  the  program  and  its  goals  and  pivotal  in  defining  the  direction  of  future  interactions.  Establishing  roots  in  the  new  context  of  GVI’s  Marine  Conservation  program  has  begun  as  GVI  volun-­‐teers  begin  the  process  of  engaging  the  10  villages  and  2  primary  schools  on  neighboring  Moturiki  Island.    A  Warm  Welcome    An  essential  step  in  undertaking  community  outreach  work  is  the  initial  meeting  where  both  parties  introduce  themselves,  begin  to  form  relationships  and  explore  how  they  can  work  together.     In  Fiji  this  process  is  embedded  in  tradition  in  the  form  of  a  sevusevu   (presentation  of  kava  roots  by  visi-­‐tors  to  the  chief  and  elders  of  a  community).    It  is  given  as  a  gesture  of  respect  and  as  a  request  for  permission   to  enter   the   village.  As   visitors   to  Moturiki   Island,  GVI   are   following   this  protocol  with  each  village  in  the  tikina   (district).    The  ceremony  provides  the  perfect  setting  to  explain  the  ethos  and  vision  of  GVI  and  open  the  door  for  future  collaborations.    Each  of  the  5  sevusevu’s  that  GVI  personnel  have  presented  so  far  have  involved  interesting  discus-­‐sion  and  an  enjoyable  sharing  of  experiences  and   ideas.  GVI  has  been  warmly  welcomed  by  all  vil-­‐lages  visited  to  date  and  plans  have  are  in  place  to  visit  the  remaining  northern  villages.  Initial  meet-­‐ings   tend   to   be   a   fairly   formal   affair,   yet   over   subsequent   visits   and  meetings   our   friendships   are  blossoming.  When  GVI  held  a  second  sevusevu  in  Niubasaga  to  introduce  the  new  2015  volunteers,  the   occasion   swiftly   developed   into   a   warm   social   gathering   with   sharing   of   stories,   singing   and  dancing.        

• Environmental  education  les-­‐sons  for  60  children  

 • 83  socioeconomic  surveys  

carried  out  in  4  villages    

• Professional  development  session  held  with  11  teachers  

 

GVI Fiji January 2015  

   Needs  Assessment      In  keeping  with  a  grassroots  approach,  outreach  projects  are  designed  in  consultation  with  commu-­‐nities  and  are  developed  in  response  to  their  needs.    In  order  to  get  to  know  communities  better  and  identify  areas  for  support,  volunteers  have  carried  out  83  initial  socioeconomic  surveys  in  4  villages.  Surveys  have  been  designed  to  give  us   information  on  village  population  demographics,   infrastruc-­‐ture,  current  waste  management  methods,  and  fishing  practices.    Data  analysis  has  identified  several  areas  to  target  for  development  and  outreach  projects.        

                                   

Socioeconomic  surveys                                                      Village  mapping                                                                  Community  meetings    Environmental  Education  Enrichment      In  School    A  14  week  term-­‐based  plan  for  environmental  education   lessons  and  extra  curricular  activities  has  been  developed  in  consultation  with  local  schools.  Lessons  so  far  have  explored  key  concepts  such  as  interdependence  in  ecosystems,  threats  to  the  environment  and  conservation-­‐focused  solutions.    After  school  activities  take  place  outdoors  with  a  view  to  make  learning  relevant,  practical  and  expe-­‐riential.    

 Outreach  in  schools  and  professional  development  training  on  Caqalai  Island  

 

 

GVI Fiji January 2015  

 Outreach  on  Caqalai    GVI’s   education   programme   also   includes   professional   development   training   sessions   for   school-­‐teachers.    The  first  session  was  held  on  Caqalai  Island  in  January  and  attended  by  11  primary  school  and  kindergarten   teachers.     It  was  a  wonderful  opportunity   to  develop   relationships  between  GVI  and   local   schoolteachers.     The   highlight   of   the   day  was   taking   the   teachers   snorkeling   to   see   the  reefs  around  Caqalai  –  for  some  this  was  the  first  time  they  had  tried  snorkeling  and  for  one  teacher  it  was  her  first  time  in  the  sea.    Her  verdict  –  “The  coral  looks  like  castles,  it  is  so  rich  in  life!”    First  hand  experience  of  the  beauty  of  the  marine  world  is  already  proving  to  inspire  the  desire  to  learn  more  about  the   local  environment  and  a  sense  of  pride  and  stewardship   in  both  teachers  and  stu-­‐dents.    As  a  new  base  and  programme  significant  progress  has  been  achieved   in  making   connections  and  building  relationships  that  will  help  all  stakeholders  to  work  together  to  promote  environmental  sus-­‐tainability,  food  security,  livelihood  diversification,  and  a  foundation  future  positive  development  for  the  region.    

For more information on GVI’s projects in Fiji please visit www.gvi.co.uk For more information on our global impact visit www.gviworld.com

To make a donation to our community projects in Fiji please visit www.gvi.org for more details.