Education: A higher priority

They come like angels, willingly giving a hand and return to their home content with what they have accomplished before they are branched out gain on their own. What lies ahead of them after a journey of volunteering is usually an eye opener initiated by their generous help and exploration off  of their own land of birth. Take for instance the life of the newly welcomed US ambassador to Fiji Frankie A Reed. Being a former  peace corp volunteer and journalist at a young age of 15 she is a great example and one  which many especially student journalists in Fiji and the Pacific islands can learn from and can look up to.  However, she had stated in an article by the Fiji Times that her charitable work of upgrading and improving the life of the less fortunate continued through helping ou t girls achieve better academic qualifications . Ms Reed stated in the Fiji Times article;

"I do a lot of work with girls' education and I've done that over the years. Girls even in the US are just beginning to focus on certain professions that traditionally have been all male and so I tend to work with some of the young women in most countries."

Ms Reed’s continous work with improving the lives of young women are no doubt out of  her interest in volunteership which she had experieced prior to joining the Foreign Service in 1983. She says giving a helping hand in a allowing education for those who find difficulties is her key focus. This brings me to another matter of interest which most volunteers in Fiji seem to engage in when they arrive.  Many who are volunteers in the outter islands or remote parts of  Fiji and in other islands of the Pacific  Yet, ofcourse a big thumbs up to the many more who would like to engage in the education system of Fiji during their volunteership.

 Most of us are aware that we need all the help we can get in educating the young ones particularly those away from facilitated areas. The volunteers on Moturiki island in the Lomaiviti group of Fiji are a few of the many who are young  and heavily involved in the daily classes of primary school students in that area.  Even though they admit that the teaching volunteer projects are exhausting, they realise how much fun as well as of a great help they have been to the local schools and kindergartens of Moturiki island. A big vinaka vakalevu to the local and international volunteers who have gone about Fiji and the Pacific to help in the schools and classes in the rural areas.

The picture is of a volunteer teaching in a school on the island of Moturiki. Source: Think Pacific

With volunteers coming into the country and participating in local schools as teaching assistants and so forth, we must also ensure that academics or local teachers do not take advantage of their help yet also assist them during class. They may mostly need help in interpretation and explanation of traditions and culture. Otherwise, it is also a great experience for them as well to be learning something new.

A simple thank you

What does it take for a person to live a life of giving straight out of the learning stream?  It is not that easy to perform tasks that you have been trained and taught to do for certain periods and serve without the necessary pay. However, what makes it even more impossible is where one decides to travel to a far away country to do volunteer work for people who do not even speak your own language. For those who have gone through such paths, it is a fact that such a phase of their lives were not easy yet it some how fulfils the yearning in becoming content and at peace through helping out others.

This brings me to the achievement of a 19 year old from Edgware in London named Ameila Henriot. She had gone through training to join the health and fitness industry through the Lifetime’s Fitness Instructor Apprenticeship programme. From there, she decided to volunteer in Fiji for five months on Batiki which is a small island in the northern division. She is a good example of youths who work for the betterment of others. Hence she has also proven that volunteer work does not go unseen or unrecognised because she has been named as one of the top 20 Lifetime LearnerAchievement Awards.

In an interview on  one of United Kingdom’s newspapers , Times, she revealed that;

“I was able to use all my skills and knowledge learnt to teach underprivileged children and young adults who are not as educated as us Brits about health and fitness. I would teach them how to stretch and the importance of warming up before exercise, and truths about certain foods. I wanted to help others achieve their health and fitness goals and really make a difference to people’s lives.”

Moreover, even though the award where Miss Henriot has been nominated in is not directly meant for volunteers, it was in fact her interest in volunteering as well as using her skills which she had learnt from the institution to do so. I commend her efforts of teaching the people of Batiki on the importance of warming up before exercising and the facts about food.  

I believe this is where organisations in Fiji and the Pacific can learn into recognising the humble work of those who sacrifice their time and work in volunteering especially with their specialised skills. Although, there may already be certain organisations that do show gratitude to their volunteers in varied ways, the organising of a national or regional awards perhaps may motivate others to join the field of volunteering. Hence, in influencing others to help communities who are under privileged, we can be assured young ones will grow in a society that gives a helping hand and not one that often gives for a pay cheque.

Therefore, the volunteering experience of Miss Henriot and her nomination for an award is a gleaming example to those who are yet and who continue to carry out volunteer work whether it is on a every day basis or at least during the week ends. People must keep in mind that it is not the trophy or certificate that volunteer s highly appreciate yet it is the effort that others take to actually support and thank them for what not many may choose to do. Thank you my dear fellow volunteers for braving what ever obsticles which you may had faced in this journey of a life time, for lifting up those who were in need and for making people aware of the issues that endanger our environment and its inhabitants. Vinaka!

"India Changed My Life"

"India Changed My Life"

From the heart

Imagine a world filled only with people who worked by and for paper? I am talking about the green notes that supposedly make the world move and people work their backs off! Yes money is the first that comes into one’s mind when work is required to be done. During these hard times money talks when objectives are put into motion like work which requires one to sit in a comfortable office or on the field planting sugarcane or even the most simplest form like placing stamps on documents. No one can deny the fact that with hard times you would charge employers for the work done. However, the basic values of generosity together with willingness would be lost if children are always lead with the perception that nothing comes for free. Well to some extent this should be ruled out. The word “volunteer” should be instilled into the minds of young ones in homes and schools. Hence, the words of Mother Theresa comes to mind;


Let us not be satisfied with just money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.

 If you have been confused with the actual meaning of the word ‘volunteer’, it refers to the act of willingly performing or doing something without getting paid. The act is seen as an altruistic activity. Volunteering is intended to improve human quality of life, for building a greater net work of communication and skill development yet there are other reasons that are regarded as self serving. The act of volunteering ranges from cleaning up the school compound willingly to feeding the needy children. Therefore, in order to truly earn being called a volunteer for a good cause, it requires the person to have a great interest in such an activity and to perform the acts without doubt and complaint.

There are many organizations around the world that operate with volunteer workers. Yet we do not have to look far to volunteer for a good cause. We can start in our own communities and work on issues like poverty, climate change, saving the marine environment and safe guarding the rights of children. It is upon us to take up such responsibilities and lead by example to the younger generation. Working through this quality of work would also enable a greater understanding amongst people despite the differences in race, age, religion or gender.

 On the other hand there is no harm in helping out in a broader volunteering activity. This would include work in national, regional or international organisations. In my first experience as a volunteer for the World Wide Fund for Nature South Pacific Office in Fiji, I have come to realize how much we take for granted and the consequences that associates with it. For instance, the removal of mangrove trees to construct sea walls has a huge impact on marine creatures and soil erosion occurs as well. Fortunately, my fellow volunteers and I have been able to communicate with people globally on what field work we have completed and the ones which we are yet to cover through writing up blogs.

Thus, there are many forms of volunteering yet its true nature is for a positive objective. You can be raking the compound or cleaning the town with a group of friends that would still fall under the umbrella of being a volunteer. So remember, sometimes there are certain important issues that needs our attention and generosity but not the usual thirst for money. The world would not be in a fighting state for good if volunteers did not exist.