HELP International Fiji: August 2013

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