Educational Capacity Building in Fiji

A little over a year ago, Susan Carter arrived in Fiji on our first ever intake of volunteers. As an experienced teacher working at the Singapore American School, Susan was moved by the challenges faced by the island schools and the lack of resources. Susan thoroughly enjoyed her time volunteering at Ratu Meli School and formed a close connection with the local students while gaining first hand experience as to the everyday challenges that the children face in the islands. After returning to Singapore, Susan gave presentations on her experience and linked in these experiences to 6th grade student's study of water issues and disease. Susan and GVI Fiji project leaders exchanged information and photos as the water unit studies continued. Susan explained the challenges effected RMMS school, water shortages, lack of clean drinking water, no working toilets, cracked water tanks, and the resulting impact on daily life. The students of the Singapore American school, motivated by the their teacher's experiences, set out to raise funds to help improve the water facilities at Ratu Meli School. The response and success of the student's individual fundraising initiatives was amazing.

The GVI Charitable Trust received $7681 Fijian Dollars from the Singapore American School water fundraising project. To date, using roughly half the funds made available by SAS, the GVI construction team have installed 8 working toilets and 2 showers in a toilet block that has been unusable for almost two years. The children now have a place to wash and shower and access to flushing toilets. The solar powered water pump has been repaired and a steady flow of water now supplies the water holding tank, also purchased by SAS funds that feeds the plumbing. With the remaining funds GVI will carry out more improvements to the toilet block and to the rainwater harvesting systems at the school.

Thank you SAS!