Community Teaching, Building and Sport in Fiji - April to May 2012 Project | Volunteer Projects and Adventures | Groups, Individuals, Charity Challenges

0191 232 0625 team@madventurer.com

Community Teaching, Building and Sport in Fiji - April to May 2012 Project

Volunteer in Fiji

Project Overview

DestinationFiji
Project TypeBuilding and Teaching
Duration2-6 weeks
AccommodationHomestay - village house
Age17+
AirportLabasa via Nadi
Downloads Teaching Pack
Pre departure Form 2011
Trip Notes

I learnt a lot from coaching - keeping kids motivated and excited whilst learning along the way.
Laura Weatherill, 21, 2006

Project Details

GAP year in FIji - Volunteering in Fiji is an ideal way to experience true Fijian culture. Madventurer community projects work in partnership with village development committies. Helping to build much needed facilities including school class rooms, sanitation blocks, village halls. It'll be hard for people not to fall in love with the laid back life, "Fiji Time", welcoming culture.

Project Cost = Trip Cost + Charity Donation

The Cost of your Project is split into 2 areas:

The Trip Cost is payable to Madventurer to cover all your support costs such as your airport transfer, food, accommodation (including your first night in the capital if you arrive at night) and daily transport from your accommodation to your Project site if required.

The Charity Donation is made to the MAD (Make A Difference) Foundation - Reg UK Charity No 1111805 - to cover all the Charity's support costs such as Project Materials and to aid community development, education and health. This may be raised by creating a fundraising page via the website Virgin Money Giving if you are a UK resident.

Building

The key to all mad building projects is the partnership between our team and the local community. Aside from the funding, the presence of your team of Volunteers can be a great motivator to your new friends in the village as it demonstrates the importance of hard work, showing what can be achieved, even regardless of sex. Past projects have included community halls, water storage tanks, sanitation block, church renovations. Check out our Trip Notes for a range of building activities. No building experience is necessary as the locals and our Mad crew will point you in the right direction.

Teaching in thee village school Another lovely group shot

Teaching

Aside from the help in the pack, your crew will support you in-country and you will find that your teaching skills develop with each class. The enthusiasm, praise, time and attention that you give individuals can help to increase the confidence they have in themselves and in their abilities. English is the subject that the school principles are most keen for you to teach. It is possible to take classes in pairs or you can teach classes on your own and teaching sessions will vary from 1 - 2 per week depending on the schools timetables. *Please note the schools will be shut for two weeks at the beginning of May so there will be no structured teaching at this time. Volunteers can concentrate on the building project or help to set up and run summer classes for the village children instead.

Sports

The majority of work on the project will be building work. However during your project there will be an opportunity to get involved in some general sports (volleyball, netball, football, rugby) with the community. Maybe after dinner a quick game of volleyball on the beach, or a lunch break football game or even some rugby at the weekend. This is a great way to get the village together and interacting with the volunteer group and overseas crew. Sessions are not structured but its a great opportunity to pass on any tips, techniques or skills you might have picked up from playing the sport at home.

Wot a catch of fish Great group shot having some foot together

"Fiji Time" and life in a tradational Fijian village

Once of the best parts (according to past travellers) of our Fiji Community projects is finding out about and experiencing every day life in a tradational Fijian village. Past volunteers have got involved in weaving, coconut husking, fishing, learning to prepare tradational foods, snorkeling, trip to plantations or waterfalls and attending a Fijian church services. These are all important parts of your community project and will help you get immersed into village life so give them a go.

During your time as a volunteer you will experience a lot of Fiji time! If it’s classes running late, waiting for build materials to arrive, builders having an afternoon snooze, last minute cancellations (the weather!), buses running later, waiting for meals, you’ll see it happening all over the place, plain old "Fiji Time". Madventurer say, ‘embrace & enjoy it’ – it is a way of life that once you have returned home then you will probably be desperate for a dose of ‘Fiji time’. You will get out exactly what you put in so basically get stuck in!

Contact Details

Please note that projects start on a Monday and end on a Sunday. For more information on our Fijian Community projects just contact Mad HQ on 0845 121 1996 or email team@madventurer.com for more details.

Fiji5 Bronwen and Siena looking very pretty