Family Volunteering Fiji: June 2014

Today we got a well deserved sleep-in – or at least a slower start to the morning. The team dressed in their Fijian best and headed off to the school for the much anticipated celebration. We arrived to all see students quietly sitting waiting, village elders, men, and women dressed in sulu chandras, bula shirts and dress sulus. The kava bowl was waiting for the official ceremony and the sign was completed.

The Class 7 gang did a great job completing the sign unsupervised and so the boys erected it and the celebrations began. We were treated to music and dancing by kindy and school kids, a tradition war dance (the meke) by Class 7/8 boys and a local band played music while we enjoyed a lovo – a tradition Fijian roast cooked in a pit covered in banana leaves. It was a feast fit for a king – with chicken, fish, salads, vegetables and more.

The team presented packages of donated educational resources to each teacher for use in the classroom. The team kids cut the ribbon and the playground was declared officially opened. A number of speeches were made and lots of dancing followed.

200 kids clambered over the playground for the rest of the afternoon – it was an amazing sight of colour, smiles and action, complimented by a soundscape of laughter and excited chatter. A noisy, happy farewell stirred up emotions for some as the bus drove through a sea of happy smiley kids wishing up happy long lives!

We shared a team dinner back at base and packed for the islands.

Today was a very long, exhausting and productive day. John was still unwell so Geoff continued in the role of construction manager.

Sand was delivered for the sand pit and then we completed all of the playground equipment – with the only task remaining for Friday to erect the sign. There was some sand left over so we used it to top up the sandpit we built last year at Sabeto.

Interviews were held with staff and some very shy students, thanks to Jacqui and Megan. Head Teacher Mr Meli mentioned that it was the first time he had seen full attendance at school for a full week! Parents commented on how great the playground will be to give their kids something else to do in the evenings other than watch TV.

Painting, painting and more painting today – in a very chaotic fun kind of way. Christine had her hands full managing team kids, local kids and the rugby team who were all desperate to have a turn. We can only hope that all poles got at least two coats of paint in the local team colours of blue and white!

Jen, Kylee, Sarah, Lorelai, Kiarra, Harrison, Mima and Millie ran a session at the kindy – leading the kids in interactive singing and teaching them how to use the play dough we donated. The kindy mums had just as much fun playing with it as the kids!

Class 7 designated artist Sochi got to work on the sign writing – with numerous encouraging classmates by his side all day. After checking the spelling and layout in pencil, we left them to finish it off at the end of the day.

Most of the team went on a village wander, guided by Class 7 girls who carried Sarah the entire way. They got an insight into village life, seeing outdoor kitchens, subsistence farming and the Methodist church. They received explaination of the clans and tribal system, the multitude of religions, and family dynamics – for example many men only go away for work in sugar harvesting season and are home farming the rest of the year, and many women work in hospitality, overseas and as housemaids and are away from home during the week. The team kids said they really liked the village but wouldn’t want to stay there long term. The guides were overwhelmingly proud of their school and village.

At the team debrief the general feeling was of happy, satisfied tiredness! Mark said it was like Christmas when all the kids tackled the playground. There were so many happy smiley faces and it was a real eye opener to see such a simple playground providing so much pleasure. Someone else described a panorama of laughter, movement, and fun as 100 or so village kids played on the playground, while the rest played soccer or chase with the team kids and a large group oversaw the sign writing. This is the moment that makes the past few long hot challenging days all worth it.