Education Fiji Project #23260

Changing the Culture of Violence in Fiji

by Virtues Project International Association

Changing the Culture of Violence in Fiji

Project Report | Jun 12, 2018
Community development with Virtues Strategies part 2

By Verona Lucas | Chairman Virtues Project Fiji

Teaching the Virtues

Come with us to the village of Nawaqadamu which is located high up through the pine forests and past plateaus overlooking the Mamanuca Islands (a popular tourist designation) then drive another 11km inland to reach the village. While traveling in these rough terrains you have to pass 4 creeks which when flooded prevent a return until the floods have gone.. Traveling distance from Nadi town to the village is 23 km. There are more than 100 people living in this village. Most of the villager stays at a nearby sheep farming or cane farming area and only come up to the village when there is an important function held.

Virtues Project Fiji did a Virtues training for women which was held at Uto village for Uto and Nawaqadamu women’s in 2009.

The project goal was to provide parenting skills through the Virtues Project aimed at building Family Unity for the communities in the Ba Province.

At that time the villages were untidy, depressing places to live and people had no self respect. The two villages had a kindergarten which always ran at their village hall or a house. There was a primary school located between the two villages to cater for students in these villages as well as provide boarding for students from other more remote villages. Once their children past their class 8 exams their moved to town to stay with relatives so that they can pursue their secondary education.

Many children dropped out of school due to students peer pressure and teenage pregnancies. Children were facing difficulties with their education due to lack of support from home and also homesick when staying with relatives who were not very supportive. Only one person had reached tertiary education from these communities.

The village’s source of income was cane farming, cassava and freshwater mussels and prawns which were sold at the Nadi Market.

Nine years later in 2018

Many positive changes had taken place as the result of the parenting training which was done 9 years ago. The village of Nawaqadamu had increased its populationfrom 38 to70 households

The women in Nawaqadamu and Uto villages had made significant contributions in their village development. Nawaqadamu now have a shop which was operated by the youth who went on to find employment so the women’s group now runs the shop. The women have other income generating projects to support them individually which which includes a canteen, sewing and handcrafts which they sell to tourist.

In October, 2014 the villages opened Buruwa kindergarten to offer quality early childhood education to the children of Vagadra, Namoli, Buruwa and Nawaqadamu.

They have a new secondary school which was open in February, 2016. The Nasesevia Junior Secondary School serves four villages – Nawaqadamu, Uto, Vunamoli and Vagadra as well as the two settlements of Loqi and Rada.

The mothers agree that now they can enjoy quality time with their children and encourage them to work hard in school and secure a better future for themselves.

The Nawaqadamu villages have one registered service carrier to transport children to school every day.

There are increasing numbers of children attending higher education at the university and some have graduated and are working as bank officers, nurse, police officers, hotel workers and in business.

Showing the 5 strategies

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Mar 15, 2018
THE IMPACT OF VIRTUES ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

By Verona Lucas | Board Chairman

Handing over Parenting booklet in Fijian language

This is part one of a two part report on how the 5 strategies of The virtues Project™ can change a community, not just individuals.

In 2010 Virtues Project Fiji carried out parenting training in some 40 or so villages in one Province in the nation (there are 16 Provinces). In one of these villages the population had no self esteem or self respect. The village compound was a mess of rubbish, homes were unkempt, children dropped out of school at 15 or younger and just hung around doing nothing. People living there were depressed and people outside commented on the low level of life in this community.

One Virtues Project facilitator was married to a fellow from this district and decided to see what could be done to change things. Following the introductory workshop she spent over six months and many follow up visits to watch the community change and became completely different. The community decided that the village council would no longer be just the older men but it would include women and youth in ongoing consultation. Out of this process the village was fenced to keep out animals, the houses were clean and women decorated the interiors to make them attractive. The council agreed that every child would stay at school and where possible attend University as there had been no University graduate in their history.

Now 8 years have passed. What has happened? Did this community maintain its new outlook and continue with using the 5 strategies of The Virtues Project™? Did it move further forward, what happened to the children and have any gone to University yet?

Some enquiries have been made and it would appear that the community has grown even further with small businesses developing and a strong sense of self worth.

Our next activity is to visit this community and some of the surrounding villages and find out exactly where they are at the moment, and what it has meant to their neighbours.

We will report to you as soon as we have whatever we find out.

Virtues poster listed in Fijian language

Participants discussing parenting at workshop

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Dec 20, 2017
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE VIRTUES PROJECT FIJI

By Verona Lucas | Project Manager, Board Chairman

Tool Box for Virtues training

The work for the Virtues Project Fiji continues to grow. Communities continue to request training in the Virtues Project strategies throughout the country and some of these requests arise from word of mouth as families who are trained share with theirfriends and family members how much change and happened and how much easier it is for the family to work together. The puppets continue to play their part, especially with the children who learn how the virtues work to make their lives better.

Facilitators working with the Virtues Project understand that the Five Strategies are the 'tools' that enable people to work with the 'gifts withing' - those innate qualities we call virtues, which need to be nurtured and grow in each individual. To make it easier for participants to understand this, facilitators in Fiji have designed a 'tool box' containing the Five Strategies. Each strategy has been defined in a way that can be used in any situation in which facilitators are working.

Virtues Project Fiji is challenged with insufficient staff and funds to carry out the work. The contact that we have developed with youth in the area where we work is to be utilized to engage more youth in the project. The plan is to capture the energy in the youth to carry forward the work with the puppets and the community training. In addition, in the early part of 2018, facilitators will be visiting organizations and ministers of government whjo are deeply concerned with the abuse that continues in Fiji, to share teh Virtues Project Tool Box and seek their support to promote this within their own operations.

Thank you for your continued support for our work. You truly are making a positive difference in the lives of our people, givingthem the tools to enhance their lives and relationships.

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