Community Projects in the Pacific Islands
Community Projects in the Pacific Islands
Duration: from 3.00 Months to 7.00 Months
Countries: Fiji
Placements in Fiji are primarily Teaching placements, but due to the often tightly-knit nature of Fijian society, there is often an important community aspect too. In these placements volunteers live and work on a daily basis with the village community and soon find themselves part of everything the community does, from playing games and sports to attending festivals and celebrations. You may also find yourself working with children in the evenings, helping with English teaching as well as extracurricular activities such as arts and crafts. Volunteers will be given a lot of leeway and there is plenty of room for them to use their own initiative to get involved in the community as much as possible. Past volunteers have even set up workshops and fundraisers. All applicants are matched to placements to ensure that there is a good fit between the volunteer and their host communities. Lattitude Global Volunteering is an international youth development charity that has been sending volunteers on challenging structured and exciting voluntary placements around the world for 40 years.Call: 0845 344 7500
Few placements offer such a culturally rich experience. Volunteers become immersed in the traditional Fijian way of life while contributing to the local community. It will suit people who are proactive, outgoing and willing to think outside the box.
The work can be challenging, the accommodation is basic and the food is quite alternative! However the whole experience is guaranteed to be truly exhilarating and enormously rewarding.
Community placements in Fiji involve volunteers working in a variety of placements such rural district schools, kindergartens, centres for children with various disabilities and also assisting a local community to build a school for their children and conservation within a national park.
Minimum age: 17 (but must turn 18 during placement)
Departs: Jan / Aug
Duration: 3 or 6 months
What’s Included?
- Pre-departure briefing
- Airport pickup
- Accommodation & food
- In-country orientation
- In-country support
- 24/7 support
Accommodation and Food
Accommodation varies from living in a hostel on site, to staying with a local Fijian family. Food is supplied in conjunction with accommodation. Fijians eat almost anything at any time. Dalo (or taro) and cassava are root vegetables and, with bread and fruit, are the staple diet in rural areas. Food is taken on a beautiful home-made reed mat.
This placement would suit:
Somebody who is full of energy, hard-working and dedicated. Few projects offer such a culturally rich experience. Volunteers become immersed in the traditional way of life whist contributing to the local community. It will suit applicants who are proactive, outgoing and willing to think outside the box, as resources can be in short supply. Placements include building projects as well as community care.
Do you accept non UK citizens?
Yes, please enquire
User Comments:
“Everything is new and exciting, you learn to adapt and change your lifestyle, any materialistic item that was once important to you is now easy to live without, and your perception of the world completely changes. All that matters to you are the new friends you make and the family back at home. Once you can say ‘Bula Vinaka’ and drink kava at full tide you’re already a part of the family.”
~ by Mariah Hommelhoff
Inclusions
accommodation, food, airport pickup
School children
Traditional celebrations
Fijian waterfall
Fijian sunset
Lattitude Global Volunteering
Lattitude Global Volunteering is an international youth development charity that has been placing volunteers all over the world for 40 years. Our priority is always ensuring our volunteers experience exciting and productive placements that ensure benefit to their host community and development of the volunteer. We believe in real volunteering and are dedicated to both our volunteers and our hosts. Originally called GAP Activity Projects, it was our organisation that coined the term ‘gap year’. So we know a thing or two about exciting years out! Do more than just travel!
