You is IMPORTANT

This past week three of the volunteers (Brittany Guerra, Sarah Connolly, and I) traveled to Tavua where one of our partners (the GOLD foundation) is located. This organization fights poverty among local villages and teaches women the importance of their role in society. More power to women! I really believe in the power of this organization. There is nothing more important to me than learning to be your own self and understanding the role that you can play in society. I believe that you should never hold yourself back from doing something that you want because you don’t think you can, or you think it will be too hard, or you are embarrassed because nobody else is doing it. Each person is valuable to our society in a different way.  Sometimes, as women, society tells us that we can’t do certain things that men can do. That they have certain abilities that we don't. But that's not true! That is why I love the GOLD foundation so much, because that is what they teach to these women. That they are worth a lot more than they think.

Our role for the two days we were there was to teach workshops about the importance of good nutrition and physical activity. We traveled to two different women’s groups in the area, a Fijian group and an Indo-Fijian group. Overall, the lessons went very well. We talked a lot about the type of foods that they cook, and different ideas to make them more balanced. We also discussed the three food groups (energy, body building, and healthy protective) as well as portion sizes. What I noticed most about these groups is that the women would come up with goals on their own that they could all work on together, rather than creating personal goals. They are so supportive of each other in every little thing, even if it is getting out and walking more every day or creating recipes with less fat and more fruits and vegetables. Each one of them was important in their village and each one of them seemed to have a purpose and a direction, and I loved it.

While we were in Tavua we also travelled to a nearby primary school (Tavua Andhra Sangam Primary School) and taught team building games to the kids there. Through the games and activities we prepared, we hoped to teach them the importance of working together. Long story short, we played fun games with them all day and had an absolute blast. The kids here are so funny and love to joke around with you. As the Fijians say they are very “cheeky” children.

Nine months ago I had one main goal for my trip with HELP international, and that was to change lives for the better. However as I reflect on the many things that happened here I feel that the Fijians taught me way more than I taught them. I learned that everyone and anyone can be your friend. I learned that saying hello to a stranger is not a hard thing to do. I learned the importance of family. I learned that there is no reason not to be happy. I learned that laughter is the best medicine. I learned that Fijian men are incredibly attractive... But most of all they taught me the importance of serving and helping one another. Fijian people are so willing to give and to serve, even when they hardly have anything to give. They don’t care what you look like, how you dress, or what your history is, they will love you anyway. And that, most of all, is what I hope to take back and apply to the rest of my life and to the people around me. It is these lessons that I value the most as I have been here, because they are the type of lesson that can only be taught through experience. I love Fiji and I am so excited to go back to the U.S. and teach my family and friends the many lessons that I learned here and have come to value more than anything in the world.

Everyone is important. Everyone was sent here for a purpose. We should never look at someone and think that they aren't good enough for something because, more than likely, they are good enough but you never gave them the chance to show it.

As Aibileen taught us in the movie The HELP, "You is kind, you is smart, you is IMPORTANT". And that simple but powerful statement applies to each and every one of us.

-Audrey Dickerson

Indo-Fijian Women's Group

The GOLD foundation. Irene Kumar is the head of the foundation and is one of the strongest women I have ever met.

Classes 5-8 

TEAMWORK!

Classes 1-4 were also really good at the team-building games

The Blessing of Travel

I am obsessed with traveling. To me, the blessing of travel is that it connects us with new people and places and cultures and through these connections the doors open up to new experiences. These connections and experiences then broaden our perspective of the world. We are challenged to think in new ways and to put ourselves in the shoes of other people. We learn and grow and become better people. Fiji has been no exception. This summer I have learned so much from the Fijians, their culture, life in their country, and from our team. I think one of the themes and lessons I will take away most from this summer is that things often don't go as planned but always work out for the best. So slow down, appreciate each moment, and take time to connect and live and breathe and feel.

- Lucy

Connect with the people. Connect with the team. Connect with the country.

The Fijian People

The kindness and hospitality of the Fijians we have come across never cease to amaze each of us. It is definitely the main factor that makes us fall more in love with Fiji every day. There have been countless instances showcasing their amazing love for everyone and their huge hearts. The following are just a few examples.

 *Cecily states that both of her experiences were not planned – which makes the generosity of these people twice as big! 

"On Tuesday Carly and I ventured to the Preschool to volunteer for the first time. On the bus we met a lady that was headed to the Vooroo Voroo preschool – or so we thought. We followed her off the bus, expecting to end up at the preschool and through some sort of miscommunication we ended up in a very humble home in the middle of a squatter village. This lady was all smiles and never turned around to ask why we were following her. Instead we followed her to her home and she willingly and happily invited us inside. Keep in mind she didn't even know our names and probably was clueless as to why we had followed her in the first place. On the deck there was another Fijian lady, and the way she invited us in sounded like she was expecting us – which made us think she was the preschool teacher we had spoken to earlier that day. Even though she had no idea why two American girls were sitting in her home she never asked why we were there; instead, she carried on a conversation like we were her long lost friends. It lasted a good 15 minutes until we had to cut her off. She laughed out loud when we finally asked her if we were at the preschool.  

I was out in poor villages visiting with the families that FENC sponsors, it started to rain very lightly. As we were passing a house, a little, old, Fijian lady called from her house, “Come, come – take shelter”! This lady had never met us before and opened her tiny two-roomed house for us. She insisted on us sitting in the only two chairs she had while she sat on the floor. Her entire house is smaller than my kitchen at home. I have never witnessed anyone so openly invite four strangers into a home to protect them from the gentle rain. Her kindness was remarkable. She seemed more than content with her simple life. All of these woman and children I met on my adventures this week demonstrated so much humility and happiness. I’m forever changed from the experiences I had this week."

"This week I was able to spend some time in the villages, meeting with different women who have received small loans from South Pacific Business Development. These loans allow them to start and grow a business. Using their earnings they begin to pay off the loan and grow their personal savings. It was a humbling experience, as I witnessed the extremely harsh reality of their daily living conditions. However, they are so happy with their lives and are grateful for the loans they have received. Their attitudes are amazing and inspiring. The highlight of the trip came when I was leaving the last village. It had started to rain, and as I stepped out of one woman's house, two little girls were waiting with an umbrella for me, which they carried over to me as they walked me to the car. Their kindness and thoughtfulness touched me greatly. You could feel their love, and that seemingly small act of service had a huge impact on me. See the attached picture!"

       -Lucy 

Carly's experiences are as follows:

"Where do I even begin. The ratio of touching, changing experiences to regular, average ones when locals are involved is not even comparable. From seeing Fijians constantly giving up their seat on the bus for one another, to witnessing them invite any stranger walking by during kana time in to come eat, to the often repeated sentence directed at us of "Please, call me Aunty! Make yourself comfortable. My home, is your home", there is always something making my love for them amplify.

These are great examples of their generosity that I will always cherish. 
Continuing with that, here is a story about their genuine happiness that I noticed during our weekend travel this past week. We took a boat ride to another island for 8 hours, giving us plenty of time to see the crew on deck at work. They were almost all males in their 20's. They worked hard and did a good job getting us there safely, but that's not what stuck out to me. When we arrived to the island they jumped out, carried tons of bundles of wood planks off the boat and began going to work constructing an additional bure for the resort."That's smart", I thought. "They work for both companies and get paid to travel here to their other job". "Genius!".

It wasn't until later that night, when it really hit me. I realized throughout the day that the same few boys were also the landscaping crew, cleaning/maintenance crew, dinner staff, waiters, bar tenders, ran all the activities around the island and were even the performers for the entertainment that night. After the night show they quickly changed out of costume and I watched them get right back to work cleaning and moving tables to make space for the dance floor for us, then right back to cleaning. From literally sunrise to past sundown they were working with a smile on their face. I never saw one of them slow down and never heard one thing that could have even been close to a complaint. They are happy to have work and would never complain about that. I don't know a single American (especially a boy in their 20's!) that would ever be happy working 24 hours a day. It made me put things into perspective not only about money and possessions but also about time and opportunity, and attitudes about the work field. They were a perfect example to me that happiness is truly a choice. You can be happy where ever you are and whatever you're doing, if you want to be.The Fijians never cease to amaze me. They continue to teach me countless lessons every day, without even knowing it.." :) 

Working with Students

The HELP Fiji team has recently developed a project to study with students in an after school tutoring program. Several volunteers have been working with students in various capacities in order to build relationships, improve knowledge, and teach them new skills. One of these projects involves reading remediation at a local school. Many of the students at this school fall below the poverty line and are among some of the lowest readers in the Suva district. Unfortunately, the necessary resources required to promote reading both at home and at school are minimal which explains why many 9 and 10 year old students are still learning letter names and sounds. Since HELP volunteers have begun assisting with small group and one-on-one instruction of these skills, teachers at this particular school have already verbalized a noticeable improvement in the short amount of time we've been here with the targeted students. We're excited to continue to see improvement as we help these students develop and grow confidence in the essential skill of reading!

Another way that HELP volunteers have been working with students is through tutoring sessions that are organized by FENC, a local NGO that supports underprivileged families in the area. Volunteers have enjoyed getting to know the secondary school students while working with them on algebra, trigonometry, and reading comprehension. It is especially rewarding when their eyes light up after picking up on a new skill. Not only have volunteers seen students become more confident and knowledgeable, but the employees of FENC and the personnel at schools have noticed it, as well. It's exciting to know that we are building relationships and making a difference in these students lives here in Fiji. 

The Hilton Special School

We have had a blast these past few weeks meeting our wide variety of partners and developing different project ideas for this summer, but we had one unanimous favorite this week. The Hilton Special School. I'll let the volunteers do the talking! Here are a few inserts from Cecily and Heidi. 

 "This past week I have been able to volunteer at a school for disadvantaged children. All the children at Hilton School either have physical disabilities or are hearing impaired. I've only been to the school five times so far and the children have already taught me so much about themselves and about life.  I am proud to say I now know how to sign the Fijian Alphabet and count in Fijian sign! These are some of the happiest children I have ever been around. I've learned that being happy is a choice. Last Friday during the sports hour, I watched these children run around playing games without a care in the world. They didn't even seem to notice their disabilities. Most of the children limp when they run – but they run anyways. They aren't embarrassed and they never complain about their limitations. Instead, these children have a permanent smile cemented on their faces. I am simply amazed at how happy these children are,despite being trapped in their disabled bodies. On top of their positive outlooks, these children always look out for one another. They push their friends in wheelchairs, pick up books and pencils that drop to the ground, and hold other children’s hands as they guide them to their respective classrooms. Despite limitations these children live and breathe kindness."

 "The students and the teachers at the school are truly incredible. The teachers have so much patience for these children and love and care for them like their own. Despite their disabilities, the way that the students interact with each other can only be described by one word. FAMILY. They learn together, pray together, play together, encourage each other, help each other, and love each other. I love watching the children push other disabled students around in their wheelchair, and cheer for each other when one gets a math problem correct. I have already learned so much from these children and can't wait to see what else I will learn. I had the opportunity to substitute teach a class of 6 students at a 2nd grade academic level. It was the most challenging, yet most rewarding day I have had yet since I have been in Fiji. Just from this one experience, I learned to discipline children, have patience with children, new teaching methods, and I have found a new love for children. I also have a whole new respect for special needs teachers. There is so much of a need at Hilton School. I can't wait to continue to serve these wonderful people and be apart of their family."

Week 1

Week 1 was an outpouring of all things new. New friendships, new places, new cultures, new foods, new experiences, new living conditions, new routines. It is has also been a week to meet with all of our potential partners to find our niche among them. As a team we have explored these many avenues, and while we're still learning, we are ready to dive in. Week 2 should be filled with our first real tastes of the projects we will be working on this summer. We cannot wait to start! Meet our incredible first wave team, from left to right- Lucy, Steven, Cecily, Michelle, Carly, Heidi, Aly, Natalie and Brittany! 

Arrived and Settled, 2013!

*The first few blogs were previously posted when we arrived so ignore the dates! We are transferring them from our old blog, to this new and improved one* :)

      We, your fearless Country Directors, have officially arrived in Suva, Fiji! After only a small delay (17 hours to be exact), our flight landed in Nadi around 10pm, where we spent a fantastic first night at the Beach Horizon Backpackers Resort.We then spent the next day traveling across Fiji meeting with old and new friends, including Irene at the GOLD Foundation, Rico with South Pacific Business Development, and a sweet homeless lady who sang Christian songs to us and kissed both our cheeks while we waited for a bus in RakiRaki. The people here are generous, happy, and full of life, and are easily winning our hearts.We will keep blogging our adventures for this summer, so stay tuned. This is going to be a fantastic summer that you are not going to want to miss!