The Nakavika Project was created in December of 2009, when we ventured to a remote village in the Namosi highlands of Fiji’s Viti Levu. Hoping to present creative options in education, we soon learned the entire experience was about the exchange of ideas and cultures, the creation of a dialogue.

Today, the Nakavika Project represents this act of entering a community by invitation and implementing lessons or help in basic human skills and traits, ultimately in the name of creating a dialogue that challenges both the newcomer and the community.

At this time, we’d like to welcome you to check out our project in Nakavika, examine our angles on Education, Health, and Scholarship, and determine how you’d like to be a part of the equation. Whether you would like to comment on the concept of voluntourism, cross-cultural development and exchange, or create your own like-minded project somewhere (maybe even in Nakavika village), all of these are wonderful ways to contribute to our mission.

Our Nakavika Project objectives:

Education

As is true for all cultures, it benefits the children greatly to have a jump start to their education through creative approaches to learning. The Nakavika Project sees an undeniable opportunity to teach lessons within creative means for a lasting impact. The children of Nakavika are enthusiastic about songs, active games, activities with balloons, and any group exercises that draw on their sense of community to learn a lesson.

Health

What Nakavika seems to lack is an adequate way to take care of their bodies. I was asked to supply band-aids multiple times, since the village doesn’t have a health clinic or many first aid supplies (except arguably in raw form). In this tropical atmosphere, bacteria exacerbates cuts, stomach issues and illnesses. The Nakavika Project focuses on connecting with the village on wanted and beneficial improvements in health treatment.

Scholarship

In the highlands, incomes mainly rely on the weather, and most families support a large number of children. The village spokesman and his committee are responsible for raising the funds for secondary school graduates to attend tertiary education, usually through fundraising events that bring in tens of dollars per occasion. The Nakavika Project believes in investing in what will bring the most return and opportunity to the village, the determined minds.

This project is the brainchild of Garrett Russell and Lindsay Clark and is a Fighting for Futures mission.