Tel: 01273 647210 Fiji Children and Schools Overview Volunteer With Children in Fiji Get stuck in and volunteer in a school in the stunning Yasawa Islands. As a volunteer on this rewarding project you'll be supporting the students inside and outside of the classroom, teaching extracurricular activities, playing sports and games and preparing teaching resources. The remote location of the Yasawa Islands means that schools are under resourced and have a shortage of teachers. By volunteering you'll be lending a much need pair of hands allowing the children to get the one to one support they need to develop their education, giving them the best chance possible of being successful in their adult lives. The children are so welcoming, friendly and eager to learn and seeing their faces light up when they learn something new will make the project seem so worthwhile. This is a very hands on project but there will be plenty of opportunities for you to recharge your batteries. Outside of your volunteering you'll be kicking back and relaxing in the beachside resort accommodation- swing in a hammock, bathe in the warm tropical water off one of the three beaches and feast on delicious Fijian food cooked for you by the resorts very own chef! Trip Highlights: Spending the days working with the children and improving their education
Experience the laid back lifestyle of paradise island living- live on the beach, dine under the stars and drift off to sleep with the sound of the waves lapping! Immerse yourself in the culture living in a traditional Fijian bure and take part in a Kava ceremony Spending your evenings at the beachfront bar sipping cocktails, watching the sunset Enjoying free time at weekends- relax on the beach or get active and try out snorkeling, kayaking or trekking! Fast facts Project duration: Min 1 week - Max 4 weeks Location of project: Yasawa Islands Arrival airport: Nadi (airport code NAN) Activities: Preparing teaching resources, supporting students inside and outside of the classroom, reading to primary school children, teaching extracurricular activities and skills, playing sports and games Working hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm Getting to the project: 30-60 minute transfer by boat (depending on location), included in price of project Requirements: Minimum age 16, Police check required (fees apply) What's included Accommodation: Shared dorm room at resort Food: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Airport pickup: Included on arrival date Training: In-country orientation Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, local in-country team, 24hr emergency support What's not included Flights, return airport transfer, insurance, optional activities, any extra meals and drinks Accommodation
During your stay in the remote Yasawa region you ll be staying in a beautiful resort on Drawaqa Island in a room with your fellow volunteers (only 4 people per room). The dorms are traditional Fijian bures (wood and straw houses) set amongst mature trees just back from the beach so expect to drift off to sleep with the sound of the waves lapping! There are simple shared bathroom facilities in the centre of the resort. The hostel offers beachside accommodation with simple facilities reflecting the environmentally friendly nature of the resort. There is a waterfront bar area right on the beach for you to chill out and socialise with your fellow volunteers after the day s work and if you re looking to relax there are hammocks across the island. There is no chance of being bored at weekends either as countless activities can be arranged by staff such as kayaking, trekking and even manta ray swims. If this isn t enough for you, the resort has a chef who will prepare your dinners for you each night- the perfect chance for you to sample Fiji s finest cuisine. There is definitely no chance of being bored in the evenings, the resort often organises evening entertainment to give you a better insight into the rich Fijian culture. Entertainment includes Fijian fire dancing displays, kava ceremonies and traditional Fijian songs and music. Wi-Fi is available and the staff will clean you room and make your bed daily. Washing facilities are available for a small charge. The resort is located on the stunning Drawaqa Island nestled in between three beautiful beaches. Much of the resort's surrounding water have been declared a Marine Reserve so expect to see manta rays gliding past the island and an abundance of coral reefs offering fantastic diving and snorkelling opportunities. It s a great place to come back to after a day s volunteering as the beach setting and laid back lifestyle makes it easy for you to relax and truly enjoy your time in Fiji. All of the projects are based on Naviti Island which is a 30-60 minute transfer by boat depending on your project. Itinerary Day 1 (Friday): Arrival into Nadi International Airport (Airport code NAN) Bula Fiji! When you arrive in Fiji you'll be met at the airport by our in-country team who will take you to your accommodation where you'll have time to get settled in and relax after your flight. It takes about half an hour to get from the airport to the hotel and you ll need to arrive by 5pm for your orientation. You ll be given a pre-volunteering briefing where you will meet your fellow volunteers and find out what you will be doing for the duration of your program.
If you aren t able to arrange a flight to get you into Nadi in time for the orientation then we suggest that you fly in a day early. We can help you arrange this so give us a call for more information. Day 2 (Saturday): Transfer to the Yasawas Feel the fresh sea wind rushing through your hair as you take to the water and set sail for your new home on the idyllic Yasawa islands. When you arrive at the resort there will be time for you to settle in before lunch and a breifing which will help you get to know the volunteers and staff a bit better. Day 3 (Sunday): Free day Today is your free day to chill out at the resort with your new friends. Make the most of it as this is your last day before starting your project! Days 4-8 (Monday to Friday): The project The wait is finally over and you can now begin to immerse yourself in the life of the locals as you get introduced to your project! The in-country team will introduce you to the teachers and children who you will be spending the duration of the project with. You ll spend the rest of the day getting to know the children and getting involved with the volunteering. You will be working from around 8am to 3pm each day and you will be getting involved with all aspects within the school. You could be volunteering in preschools, primary schools or the one secondary school in the Yasawa region and your roles could involve assisting teachers with lessons, creating teaching resources and playing games with the children. Days 9 and 10 (Saturday and Sunday): It s the weekend! The weekends are for you to spend as you wish. If you re after some well-earned rest and relaxation then there are plenty of quiet spots on the island to chill out. If you re ready for an adventure then you can hop on a boat and explore the nearby islands, experience the culture with a visit to a local village or witness to beauty of Fiji s fantastic underwater world by trying out snorkeling or scuba diving! You should allow around $150 FJD for a variety of extra activities. If you are volunteering on the programme for the one week duration then day 9 will be your last day and you'll transfer back to the main island for your onward travels. Following days/weeks The following weeks will be similar to that of your first as you become more involved in the project. Make the most of every second of your time in this incredible country as you ll be surprised by how quickly the days come and go!
Last day (Saturday): You'll meet your program manager at 8am at Port Denarau for a compulsory de-brief. Say your final farewells to your new friends and wave goodbye to Fiji as you board your flight and leave paradise behind. The return transfer to the airport is not included in your project fee, but i-to-i staff will be happy to help you arrange a transfer if you need them to. Project What does the project do and why does it need volunteers? With very few preschools in the Yasawa region many children struggle to get a good start to their education and as a result pass rates in schools are very low. Despite the lack of resources the students are very dedicated to their studies and children as young as five years old have to board away from their homes and families just to receive an education. The project works with the three primary schools and the only secondary school in the whole Yasawa region and you will be placed in one of these depending on need and availability. The ages of children you ll be working with in the schools can vary from preschool children through to adult students who have returned to school. The project focuses on three main areas in particular which you will be getting involved in; early learning programs for the village preschools, one on one reading programs which are established in the primary schools and lastly the vocational programs which are just for the secondary school students. The remote location of the Yasawa Islands means that schools have little resources, a shortage of teachers and the teacher to student ratio is very high. Despite the dedication of the teachers they simply don t have enough time to give the students the individual attention that they require. By volunteering and offering another pair of hands you can improve the children s learning environment and play an important part in the students learning ensuring they receive the education they deserve. What s the project like and who is it for? This project s perfect for anyone who loves children and is eager to be a part of helping the teachers so that students receive as good an education as possible. The children are all very happy and enthusiastic so you shouldn t have any trouble getting them involved in learning and games! Activities and schedule You will be volunteering Monday to Friday with your weekends free to spend however you like. A typical day will start early when you will get up and have breakfast before making the transfer to your project which takes 30-60 minutes. Your volunteering will usually finish midafternoon when you will be taken back to the accommodation. You will have some time to
chill out and relax before the evening when you will be given a debrief on your days volunteering followed by your evening meal. Your activities will be quite varied allowing you to get stuck into a number of projects and develop your skills as well as helping out in all aspects of the education program. Your activities could include any of the following: Preparing teaching resources Supporting students inside and outside of the classroom Reading to primary school children Teach extracurricular activities and skills Play sports and games with the children **Please note; the programme still runs during school holidays, however, an alternative itinerary will be in place** Project resources and advice The schools have few resources so any help and supplies that you can provide would be gratefully appreciated. Whilst taking part in the program you will need to respect Fiji s culture and dress accordingly. Knees and shoulders must be covered and when in the villages. Women should wear a sulu (a long sarong) and men will need to wear long shorts. Sometimes the weather will not permit you to travel to your project. But don t worry, there will still be plenty of activities to keep you occupied. You would most likely remain on Drawaqa Island and help staff clear walking tracks, remove unwanted plants which are taking over the natural fauna or helping out with vegetable gardens. Things to bring from home: Loose light clothes (Temperatures in Fiji are between 25 and 35 degrees year round), T- shirts (shoulders must be covered), light jumper (For chilly evenings and mornings), lightweight raincoat, long shorts or light trousers (knees must be covered in the villages), ladies will need a sulu (a long sarong which covers the knees, can be purchased on arrival for $15-20 FJD), sunscreen and sunhat, medication and seasickness tablets if you get seasick Country Information Fiji, situated in the heart of the South Pacific in between New Zealand and the equator, is one of the most developed economies of all Pacific islands due to its large resources of forest, minerals and fish. These days the country earns most of its income through the tourism industry and the exportation of sugar!
Getting around... The easiest way to get around Fiji is by boat. There are extensive boat services linking Port Denarau near Nadi with many of the surrounding islands. If you're staying on the main island of Viti Levu then the most convenient and cost effective way to get around is by road. Public transport is efficient with bus links around the entire island which travel regularly from the two main cities out to less populated rural areas as well as tourist attractions. Best time to go... The best time to visit Fiji is between April and October when it isn't unbearably hot and the humidity isn't at its worst. Travelling between these months also avoids the rainy season. The Fijian winter months run from June to September and this time offers the best and clearest visibility if diving is the purpose of your visit. Flights and Insurance Insurance It's important that you get adequate travel insurance for your i to i Volunteering experience and as many of you will be working this often means standard policies won t work. The good news is that no matter where you're coming from we have already found a policy to suit you. The best time to get your insurance is when you book your project as this means you can get a fully tailored policy exclusive to i to i Volunteering, just ask your consultant for further details at the time of booking. Flights As with insurance we advise you get these booked as early as possible to avoid high prices and to make sure you arrive on the right day. The i to i Volunteering team is right up to date with the best deals no matter where you re flying from; their insider knowledge could save you some time and money.