Changing the Culture of Violence in Fiji

Schools, other organisations and the communities are requesting training in The Virtues Project to improve the relationships between the members of the community/group. Such relationships are teacher/student, student/student, administrators/staff, staff and general public and leaders and community members. The five strategies of The Virtues Project can be applied not only within the family for which it was prepared but between all members of the communities in their various relationships. The training that is being provided by facilitators in Fiji is affecting not only the relationships but has also proven economically powerful helping people improve their businesses.

The facilitators have traveled to cities and schools since the last report explaining how the Virtues Project works. Follow up training is being organised as part of the program for 2019. Further work is being planned for the puppets to help with the training in the communities.

As part of this activity the Virtues Project Fiji received an invitation during School Annual Awards Day:

A Virtues Project Fiji facilitator was invited from one kindergarten school in Ba and a primary school in Nadi to present on “How the virtues strategies helps parents to understand their role in their children's education".

The Ministry of Education aims is to deliver to our children the highest quality education contextualize to demands of this era. Thus the Virtues program see that students need to be capable not only of constantly adapting but also constantly learning and growing, of positioning themselves in the fast changing world. This is why parental support and guidance using the 5 strategies are important and parents play vital roles in these development.

The education system in Fiji understands with technological advancement, increasing social problems, there is a need to strengthen virtues and values amongst the student as well as teachers. Values and virtues will instill discipline amongst students as well as staff and eventually improve attendance and punctuality. A culture needs to be created in the school whereby the students, teachers and parents understand each other’s values and thoughts. Being appreciative, recognizing and accepting other differences would enable one to work collaboratively with others and together meet set benchmarks.

Therefore both the schools requested to have more follow up training for the teachers, students and parents to enable them to achieve their school objective and for parents to have the skills to be able to address issues that affect their personal lives.

Thus The Virtues Project Fiji is integrated into a whole approach to education.

We had technical problems and could not get photos of the children in this story.