Changing the Culture of Violence in Fiji

Our Peer Virtues Educators in Fiji have been continuing their service  in the communities of Lautoka, Nadi, Suva, Lami and Tailevu. Through these visits, they have been able to connect with 100 households consisting of 300 individuals ranging from 6 years old to 50 years old. The majority of these interactions were with youth.The purpose of their visits is to empower these individuals to understand and apply the Five Strategies of The Virtues Project in their daily lives. In discussions with community members, the facilitators hear how they are coping with the social issues that are currently affecting Fiji.  We honor the facilitators’ purposefulness.

The media in Fiji shows an increase in the incidence of violence against women and girls, with two women recently losing their lives to attacks made on them. The majority of the cases involve perpetrators who are close relations or partners of the victims. The Virtues Project Fiji continues to reach out to affected communities to help their members deal with these incidents by educating families about Virtues and encouraging them to listen to and truly hear one another. 

This emphasis on Virtues is making a difference, but it is a drop in the bucket of the work that needs to be undertaken. Alcohol and drugs are a major influence in these perpetrators’ backgrounds. Lately, there has been an increase in the use and distribution of drugs within primary schools. While the police and the community at large are working hard to deal with this problem, much comes back to the fact that people, particularly the youth in these communities, have no sense of purpose in their lives. Outreach work promoting The Virtues Project among youth in these communities needs to increase, as peer to peer engagement has been shown to have a great impact in reducing violence and despair. 

In addition to the problems created by violence, drugs, and alcohol, teenage pregnancies are an ongoing problem for young girls. Within one community, Lautoka, the Turaga ni Koro (head of the community)  gave permission to Virtues Project volunteers to visit with some families affected by teen pregnancies. The response from teens within these families was that a lack of quality time with the family, poor family structure, and peer pressure were major factors in their plights. Social media also plays a huge role, both positive and negative, in the lives of youth in Fiji, as most of them correspond regularly through social media.

One of our facilitators recently spent five weeks visiting a group of teen mothers and sharing the Five Strategies of The Virtues Project with them.  What she found most interesting about these visits was how these teenagers were able to map out what they want in their futures and how to go about achieving their goals.  With the help of the Five Strategies, they were able to see ways in which they can move forward to overcome the challenges of their lives as single mothers.

Fiji needs more Virtues Project facilitators to be able to address all of these issues and advocate for applying  the Five Strategies within other communities, particularly the outer islands and other parts of Fiji. To assist in this effort, one of our facilitators has designed a brooch with five crystal beads as a reminder of the light that comes from the Virtues and practicing the Five Strategies that are the foundation of all Virtues teaching. These brooches will be given out to the peer educators and to those who they assist. Each brooch is attached to a card outlining the Five Strategies so the wearer can talk about it to those interested. We will also sell these brooches to help raise funds where possible.

It’s not an easy journey for the peer educators to connect with their peers. The need for companioning is great for these young people who are going through their own challenges in their daily lives, either from work or peer pressure.  We congratulate our peer educators for their steadfastness and commitment as they continue this journey of advocating the Five Strategies.

We thank you, our donors, for your continued generosity, encouragement and support of our work to spread The Virtues Project in Fiji and beyond as we empower individuals to live by their virtues and apply the Strategies of The Virtues Project in their daily lives, thus creating safe and caring homes and communities.

The small island nation of Fiji confronts challenges that echo across the world:   drugs, alcohol, violence against women and children, all under the shadow of poverty.  Marijuana grows very easily and the hard drugs come into the country.  Drug cartels use Fiji as a through passage to Australia and New Zealand, leaving their poison for the people in Fiji.

Yet, a beacon of hope has emerged.  A number of Fiji youth, guided by The Virtues ProjectTM (TVP), are lighting a path toward positive change. These young peer educators reach out into communities around Fiji to advocate the Five Strategies of TVP and their importance.  

Through connections in their respective youth group, church group and other community based programs, they were able to present how The Virtues Project teaches people a new way to think, act, and speak.  Their main focus is to help as many people as possible to understand how the Five Strategies will better their lives.

Once visitation is done, the peer educators would go back and have a general discussion with interested individuals asking how they have been practicing the strategies in their daily lives.

Most individuals will try to do their best in the way they think, act and speak.  Those who interviewed agreed that at times they fall short but once they see the virtues cards it reminds them again of how they act and speak kindly and see things positively despite the negative situation they are going through.

 As outcomes of these programs, individuals were was able to

1. Create circles of friends that do positive things that build relationships and encourage one another in addressing negative behaviour.
2. Help one another to share their journey in their life stories.
3. Build courage to be able to speak the truth.
4. Help one another in sharing skills, knowledge and ideas for the betterment of individuals.
5. Forgive others through humility and understanding.

More than 100 families from different districts were visited in Fiji in March, April and May.

The Master Facilitator, a steadfast guide in this journey, with support from the youth, also takes on various activities.  In early July she visited four families in the Nawaka area for virtues enlightenment and was surprised that those families realized the importance of spending time together. This was new to some families due to the commitment in their work and other unnecessary stuff.

They did a sharing circle where they spoke of one strategy and shared stories on how it relates to their individual lives. It was a very emotional session because the participants share what is going on in their daily lives personally.

In Lautoka the Master Facilitator came across an issue where a young teenage girl is pregnant and the boyfriend does not show interest in her.  Because that boyfriend doesn’t show any consideration for her she ends up punishing herself.  When she was companioned, it was found that she was emotionally disturbed despite her family accepting her mistake.  After being companioned, she realised that it was not the end of the world.  She just has to keep herself happy so that she can deliver a healthy baby.  She also came up with the idea that she will continue to pursue her studies after giving birth.

Imagine if there are others going through the same situation and there is no one to listen to their stories.  It is no wonder people are committing suicide.  That is why mental health is important.  A few youth went with the Master Facilitator to visit stakeholders that deal with mental health and see how our program can assist them.

In addition to these activities three youth facilitators went to their home village on a remote Island in Fiji.  While they were there the police raided a marijuana plantation near their village and took 4 youth into custody.  Only one was  from that village, the others from Suva city.  The village was so upset that this happened and their name was associated with this crime.  The youth facilitators were able to hold sessions with village members and explain how the Five Strategies of The Virtues Project work. They pointed out that the youth in their community have to have a sense of purpose so they do not engage in illegal activities.

In this remote island village, the impact transcended expectations.  Amid challenges, our youth facilitators shed light on The Virtues Project, revealing a path of purpose.  They steer their community away from illegal activities, fostering a sense of belonging and hope.  Through The Virtues Project, Fiji's youth emerge as beacons of resilience, guiding their peers toward a brighter tomorrow.

Your support continues to drive our progress. Together, we paint a future brimming with virtues, illuminating the darkest corners with the light of positivity.