Gap for Good: Fiji Eco-Lodge

Program Dates: This placement is available for a minimum of two weeks during the following periods: Open Enrollment from September 2nd, 2010 through May 26th, 2011

Country Where Program is Located: The Fiji Islands

Location of Program: The Rustic Pathways Eco Lodge, Momi Bay area.

Description of Program:Schools in the Fiji Islands are under-resourced and teachers often juggle classrooms where they teach two grades simultaneously. In addition, most students grow up speaking their native Fijian or Hindi languages at home and often struggle as they start school where all classes are taught in English. In this Gap for Good placement, you will spend your days working with schools in the Momi Bay area of Fiji. You will provide much appreciated extra help to elementary school students in English language, reading and other subjects through one-on-one and small group tutoring. You will also help teachers by working as a teacher’s aid, providing individualized assistance to studentsin the classroom. If you are interested in arts or sports, you may also find yourself leading afternoon enrichment programs. You will have achance toshare your knowledge of computers with older youth in the area to help prepare them for the future as you lead computer tutorials.

During this placement, Gap for Good volunteers will stay at our Fiji Eco Lodge There are several small ‘bures’ where you will stay during your placement and a main house that is home to our Fiji General Manager, Ana Dugulele, who will provide support to you during your stay. There is also a swimming pool, soccer field, pool table, and other activities at the Eco Lodge.

Each weekday you will participate in your service placement and return to the Eco Lodge in the evening. You will find it common for our local neighbors to invite you over for tea in the evening, to join them in celebration at a local temple, or to share in a traditional kava ceremony. And just about every day at as the sun goes down an informal soccer scrimmage forms on our soccer field as the local players return from the days work. Join in or have a laugh as you watch. The Eco Lodge will quickly feel like home and you’ll have no trouble making friends with our neighbors.

Breakfast and dinner will be provided each weekday at the Eco Lodge. You are responsible for packing your lunch to take to your school project site (grab a few things from the local market and you’re on your way!). On the weekends, you are free to explore Fiji and join any optional activities you might choose. We can help you make arrangements for a weekend of island hoping, staying in local beach hotels, scuba diving, or even trek into the Nasouri Highlands with our friends, stay in a remote village, and hike jungle paths to secluded waterfalls.

Description of Location:
The Rustic Pathways Eco Lodge is located in the Momi Bay area of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu, just 45 minutes drive south of Fiji’s main tourism center, the town of Nadi. The Eco Lodge is set among rolling hills and sugar cane fields and has beautiful views of the ocean in the distance. The proximity to the Nadi area make it an easy base for exploring the islands and taking part in adventure activities like scuba diving, surfing, or sky diving during the weekends.
There are both indigenous Fijian villages and Indian-Fijian settlers in this area and you will work with both ethnic groups during your placement. Many families living here farm and have one or two members who work in Nadi or are involved in the tourism industry.

The national language of Fiji is English, but locals speak native Fijian or Hindi at home. You will find it relatively easy to communicate in English here.

Fijian Staff:Ana Dugulele, Fiji General Manager

Where will the student join the program:Students will be met at Nadi Airport and transported to the Eco Lodge by our staff at the start of their placement and will be brought back to the airport for their departure.

Transportation (how to get there, how to leave):Flights into and out of Nadi, taxi or bus to the eco-lodge.

Accommodations:The Eco Lodge has several small ‘bures’ or cabins with dorm-style accommodation on bunk beds. Bures have attached bathrooms with flush toilets and solar-heated showers. There is a main house that houses the kitchen and officeand is home to our Fijian staff. There is a swimming pool, soccer field, pool table, and great views from a large deck with a great view of the surrounding sugar cane fields and ocean in the distance.

Weather in that area: Fiji has a tropical climate with temperatures in the 80s-90s most days of the year. The dry season runs from May – November when humidity is low and rain is rare. From November to April, days are more humid and rain more likely. The height of the rainy season is in January and February.

Medical Facilities Available:There is a small nursing station about 15 minutes away from the Eco Lodge in Momi Village and a larger hospital in the town of Nadi, about 45 minutes away from the Eco Lodge. Students typically utilize private doctors in the town of Nadi for minor ailments.

Food available:Breakfast and Dinner will be prepared daily for students at the Eco Lodge. Students will be responsible for packing their own lunches, typically buying groceries locally and bringing lunch to their volunteer site each day.

Cell phone reception:There is cell phone reception at the Eco Lodge and spotty reception in the surrounding communities. Most international cell phones work in Fiji, orstudents can also get a local pre-pay phone pretty inexpensively if they like while in the country.

Availability of Internet:There is a dial-up internet connection at the Eco Lodge. Faster internet cafes are available in Nadi, where students are likely to visit once or twice a week.

Laundry:A washing machine is available for use at the Eco Lodge and clothes can be line-dried.

Local Staff:Ana Dugulele, Fiji General Manager

Program leader/Managing Director:Ann Fuller

Optional Activities: During the service week, scuba diving and surfing can be arranged (in the early mornings or late afternoons) at a location about 20 minutes from the Eco Lodge, as well as on weekends. Other optional weekend activities include day and overnight island hopping trips, stays at local beach hotels, sky diving, water sports, and scuba diving as well as hiking and cultural exploration in the remote Nasouri Highlands.

Packing List:http://www.rusticpathways.com/fiji/sunsandservice.php

Any Special Equipment Required for this trip:No, but students are encouraged to bring art supplies to utilize if they are interested in leading art programs with local students, as many basic supplies are hard to find in Fiji.

Medical Requirements: All students must consult their doctor for suggested precautions to take when traveling.

Any special notes (equipment needed, special preparation, etc.): It is recommended, but not required, that Gap for Good volunteers have prior tutoring experience, or join a tutoring program in their hometown prior to their placement in Fiji. This experience can be in any area (ESOL, reading, math, homework help, computers etc).

Suggested Service Projects Available on this Program:

Project 1: Tutor and Teacher’s Aid
Description of Service: Working with local village elementary schools, Gap for Good volunteers will provide classroom assistance as well as lead small group and individual tutoring sessions in English language, reading and other subjects. Volunteers may also lead art or sports programs depending on their interests and the schools needs. This placement also includes evening computer training sessions with older youth and adults which are hosted at the Eco Lodge twice a week.
Location of Project: Ratu Nemani Memorial School, Momi Village and/or Nabila Public School, Nabila Village. These schools are located within a 10 minute drive of the Eco Lodge and serve students from the indigenous villages of Momi and Nabila as well as local Indian-Fijian farming families. Schools have composite classrooms, with two grades in the same classroom.
Hours Per Week for this Project: 25-30 hours per week, 9am-3pm Monday-Friday: Tutoring, work as teacher’s aid and leading arts and sport enrichment programs.
Transport to project location from program location: The schools with which students will work are a short drive from the Eco Lodge and some are within walking distance. Our staff will drive students to and from school each day as needed.
Any special notes (equipment needed, special preparation, etc.): It is recommended, but not required, that Gap for Good volunteers have prior tutoring experience, or join a tutoring program in their hometown prior to their placement in Fiji. This experience can be in any area (ESOL, reading, math, homework help, computers etc).

Project 2: Computer Training
Description of Service: Gap for Good volunteers will lead computer tutorials for youth and adults in the community two evenings per week.
Location of project (proximity to program location): Rustic Pathways Eco Lodge.
Hours Per Week for this Project: 25-30 hours per week,
9am-3pm Monday-Friday: Tutoring, work as teacher’s aid and leading arts and sport enrichment programs.
3 hours per week; 7pm-8:30pm Monday and Wednesday: Computer tutoring at Eco Lodge
Transport to project location from program location: Project can be done at program site.