Education Fiji Project #40215

Inspiring & Training Young Marine Conservationists

by Action Change (Formerly GVI Trust)

Project Report | Nov 12, 2019
Putting theory into Practice!

By Tessa Sealey | Program Manager

Dear Supporters,

For Term 3, the curriculum has focused on Waste Management and Environmental Impact. Volunteers have planned and delivered interactive lessons focusing on the following concepts; Ridge to Reef, Water Cycle, Ecosystem, Habitat and Pollution. Our volunteers and staff spend hours every Monday to prepare their lesson plans in order to deliver a class based on quality information and filled with fun interactive activities. Volunteers taught a total of 24 classes, with an average of 2 classes per week. We work with classes 3, 4 and 5 (53 students aged 7-9) and the lessons last for 1 hour each.

Our biggest highlight and impact over the last 3 months has been the increased level of engagement and excitement that the students have shown towards these topics, with real interest in getting out of the classroom and in to the water to actually explore their environment.

In addition to the environmental education program already run at school, we would like to put theory in to practice by providing the students with an introduction to the underwater world. We would like to bring the classes to Caqalai on a quarterly basis, for volunteers and staff to run activities such as teaching basic marine creature identification, going on snorkel point outs on the reefs around Caqalai and Moturiki and participating in beach cleans. The common aim of these activities being to empower the students with practical skills in how to protect their environment and marine resources. Having already raised funds in 2018 for fins, masks and snorkels for the students, we are almost there! In order to bring the students over to Caqalai we need junior lifejackets, and this is what we are currently fundraising for.

Our project goals align with the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); No.4 Quality Education that aims to provide equal access to quality education and No.14 Life Below Water that aims to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems.

We have had a great impact with the students at Moturiki District School so far. With the generous help from our supporters and donors, we can continue to support the Moturiki communities with sustainable marine resource management by engaging with the future generation inside and outside of the classroom. On behalf of the whole team on Caqalai, we would like to say a huge thank you for all the support so far.

With Gratitude,

Fiji Caqalai Marine Education

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Aug 14, 2019
Amazing ongoing education

By Tessa Sealey | Program Manager

Dear Supporters,

Our constant goal is to improve the education of the children of Moturiki on the underwater world, encouraging them to care about the environment and to become community leaders in its protection. We have continued with our conservation education classes, focusing on our curriculum that was put together by our science officers and which is aligned with the local government’s guidelines for the appropriate age group.

For the last 6 months, we taught an average 2 classes per week, from class 3 to 6, 44 classes in total. These classes last for 1 hour and are held in 2 schools, on 2 different days. The classes are combined as there are not many children per classroom, making sure they make the most of our lessons. There about 20 children, from age 8 to 12.

Our conversation topics for the last 2 quarters include Sustainable seas and Clean & Green. Our volunteers spend hours every Monday to prepare their lesson plans and to deliver a class based on quality information. It is also important that the children enjoy these classes, so they include a lot of games, activities and role plays that really make the 1 hour interactive.

Our highlight was Endangered species day, that was held on the 17th of May. On our base here at GVI Caqalai we prepared plastic pollution obstacles that challenged the students to consider the negative impacts plastic waste imposes on endangered species. Empowering the students of Moturiki with this knowledge of plastic pollution has hopefully helped to diminish distribution of litter in the future. By completing this challenge, the students helped us to raise funds for the implementation of new recycling points in two respective villages of Moturiki.

Our biggest impact is that the children we teach are being more active in the class. They are answering questions that they were not able to answer in January and they ask challenging questions, which shows that their knowledge increased and so did their English level. They take home the knowledge and discuss at home, which makes their parents get involved too. Last but not least, the teachers do not have specific knowledge on these topics, so it helps them to improve and deliver quality classes.

Our project goals align with the UN SDG goals: Quality Education and Life below water. Quality Education is the 4th SDG, that aims to provide equal access to affordable vocational training, and to eliminate gender and wealth disparities with the aim of achieving universal access to a quality higher education. Life Below water is the 14th SDG that aims to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution.

We have had a considerable impact in the 2 schools, and we are hoping to continue to support these communities by engaging with the young ones and to continue to align our goals with the SDGs. Thank you very much for all your support so far, without you our work wouldn’t be the same.

With Gratitude,

Fiji Caqalai Marine Education

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