July2012

GVIFiji

SilanaisanisolatedvillageinaruralprovinceofeasternVitiLevu,Fiji.Theareaishometo a large resident pod of spinner dolphins and GVIs dolphin research programme (http://www.gvi.co.uk/programs/volunteerdolphinsfiji). Through our community outreach work we identified a primary school that would benefit considerably from additional support. In July this year GVI sent a group of volunteers to live within the communityofSilanaandprovideassistancetotheteachersofNavuniseaSchool(situated inSilanaVillage).

Class4 SilanaDistrictSchool Navunisea (SilanaDistrictSchoolorSDS)isacommunityrun schoolwith6teachersand 143pupils(age614)inclasses1to8.Theschoolisunderresourcedandtheresultsfrom external examinations have indicated that SDS is performing below the national average. There is no library and very few books, which has impeded the development of reading skills at SDS. Teacher attendance is unreliable and classrooms are regularly left unsupervised. In addition to this, because of the shortage of teachers there are two compositeclasses anda lackofflexibilityintheclassroom meansthat thesejoint classes arenottaughtcollectively,insteadoneyeargroupisalwaysleftunoccupied. Over the last month volunteers have been paired up with the teachers to help with administration,classroommanagementandlessonplanning.Volunteershaveimprovedthe

qualityofteaching by encouraginginteractivityandcreativityintheclassroomswiththe goal of providing a stimulating learning experience, instead of relying solely on a blackboard.GVIhavealsobeenabletoprovideresourcesthatwouldhaveotherwisebeen unavailableatSDS,themostvaluableofwhichhasbeenourcollectionofbooks.Thesehave been used extensivelyintheclassroomsbut alsoon aoneononebasis. Thisoneonone support was previously not possible with theratio of teachers topupils at SDS. Over the last 4weekswehavereceivedpositive feedback fromtheteachersatSDSandtheyhave expressedtheirgratitudeforourmuchneededsupport.

SilanaVillageHomestay/GVIbase Volunteerslearningtoweave Whilst working at SDS the team have been living in Silana at a homestay which was established only a matter of days prior to our arrival. The homestay is managed predominantlybythevillageyouthproject(youngadults1830)whoensuretheupkeepof our accommodation and providemeals for the volunteers. The villagers strive to run the homestay sustainably. Whenever possible the food is sourced locally and all fruit and vegetablesaregrowninthevillage.Ouraccommodationwasalsoconstructedentirelyfrom materialscollectedinthenearbywoodlands. Thevillageyouthprojecthascreated5newjobsinthevillagewhichhaveprovidedanew source of income and minimised urban drifting. In addition to this, the profit generated fromthehomestaygoestowardstheSilanaStudentScholarshipFundwhichisusedtosend villagerstouniversity.Anyremainingprofitisreinvestedtoimprovelivingconditionsand infrastructureinthevillage. OverthelastmonthGVIhavebeenbuildingnewrelationshipswiththepupils,teachersand villagers of Silana. Living within the village has created a unique experience in which 2

volunteersareimmersedinthelocalculture,givingthemanopportunitytolearnnewskills fromthelocalpeopleandsharetheirown.OurprojectinSilanaissimultaneouslyfillinga critical void in the daytoday operations at SDS and providing an income for the community.In thelongtermwewouldaimtoimprovetheacademicperformanceat SDS whilst the funds we invest in the community enhance the quality of life and create new opportunitiesforthevillageyouth. GVIFIJI