Emergency Relief for Fiji After Cyclone Winston

Dear Supporters, 

On the one year anniversary of Cyclone Winston, the people of Silana Village are remembering the dramatic events of this day, 20 February 2016, 12 months ago. 

The villages of Dawasamu District were all badly affected during the category 5 cyclone which swept along the coast uprooting trees, destroying houses and scattering debris throughout the area. In the weeks following the cyclone, GVI's Community Partners in Silana worked diligently to help collect and clear rubbish and debris, particularly scrap tin, which littered the village. These same community partners then took responsibility for assisting other villages in Dawasamu District with their clean ups too.

As the weeks turned into months, members of the community slowly began to rebuild their homes and started to replant crops which were all washed away during the cyclone. With support from the government donations of food and clothes and your donations, everyone started to get back on their feet. 

As we neared 2017, the area was struck another blow, the heavy rain in December led to excessive flooding in many parts of Fiji particularly in the villages of Dawasamu. This resulted in many of the replanted crops being washed away once again. Due to volunteers' donations immediately after the cyclone, GVI was able to provide five weekly deliveries of food, including supplies of flour, sugar, rice and dhal for each family. This was greatly appreciated by the village, as governmental donations had now ceased and the damage to replanted crops had limited the food that could be harvested. 

At the present moment, times remain challenging for Silana and the other villages in Dawasamu but today is a day of remembrance and gratefulness rather than sorrow. As a mark of respect, GVI's Community Volunteers spent the morning of the anniversary of the cyclone putting up the new Silana Village sign, which replaces the previous one destroyed by Winston. The old sign, lovingly created by a previous volunteer Deborah, was held in high esteem by the village who were so proud to show others that GVI lived and worked in Silana.

The new sign is a symbol of GVI's continued partnership with Silana Village and Dawasamu District, through thick and thin, good and bad. 

We are all #StrongerThanWinston!

From all of us in Fiji, thank you for your continued and generous support over the past year!

With Gratitude, 
GVI Fiji

Dear Supporters, 

Back in February Cyclone Winston destroyed many buildings in its path, including the Library at Navunisea District School. This library was originally built using charitable donations and it was a wonderful area for one on one lessons, reading workshops and lesson planning with teachers. During the cyclone, we lost the library as well as all of the teaching and reading resources that were stored there. 

Shortly after the Cyclone, a temporary structure was erected by the New Zealand Army, built from the remains of wood from damaged buildings and tarpaulin to help make the building weather resistant. It has served its purpose as a temporary classroom for Class 6 as well as a general learning space, while the school awaits further repair work. However, the last few months of use has taken its toll and the building is slowly beginning to fall apart. Wood is becoming loose, the tarp is damaged and the doors are hanging off their hinges.

So, now it's time to start the rebuild! 

The materials have arrived and the building work starts next week. We've begun by dismantling as much of the temporary structure as possible, saving and storing any salvageable materials in the process which will be used to make desks for the coming year. Eventually, the new building will become the NDS Library, but while they wait for the rest of the school's build to begin, it will serve as a fantastic classroom!

Thank you for all of the kind donations that have made this possible. We look forward to keeping you updated with building developments in the near future! Vinaka.

With Gratitude, 
GVI Fiji