So not all of our Fiji vacation was about frolicking in the sun and surf or getting the golden glow going. We also went with loads of school supplies for a local kindergarten and elementary school ... although when we got to the schools, we realized how much more they were in need and that we wish we had taken more with us.
So thank you to a couple of friends that sent some story books and contributed to the school supply stash, know that your gifts were very appreciated and will be well used.
Our first stop on our educational day was Komave Village. We were welcomed and presented with banana leaf and flower necklaces and shown the kindergarten. The teacher has been away for the weekend and had not returned yet, so no students were in attendance, but were given a tour of the classroom and village by Saviri (who we renamed the Fijian Snoop-dog ... eerily accurate dontcha think?). Komave is home to three groups that live together harmoniously under one chief totally about 200 residents. Many of the kindergarten students come from the village, but about 1/3 of the students come from nearby villages and settlements.
The inside of the kindergarten classroom is quite similar to most. A mat for "circle time", tables and seats for some academic work, the alphabet poster on the wall, days of the week posted in English and Fijian, and several songs written on the board. The shelf of books is quite filled, but they books are quite old and many are not age appropriate; I think the shelf might serve also as a village library for residents to borrow and trade books for their own pleasure. There are a few toys, but nothing like we have here. The dolphins hanging from the ceiling reminded me of the preschool and kindergartens back home with various seasonal things hanging from the ceilings. I missed taking a photograph of it, but there was a copy of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child posted on the wall. It's the first time I've ever seen one posted in a classroom and it nearly brought me to tears (of happiness of course), but only those who understand the significance of that document in developing countries would understand. Due to a growing number of children attending the kindergarten, the village is in the process of moving to a larger space on the village land.
There is a Catholic church on site as this village is of the Catholic faith. Christianity is the most followed religion in Fiji (thanks to those brave missionaries that kept coming to Fiji in the 1800s to bring God to the Islands ... I say "brave", because Fiji was a cannabilistic society and some missionaries were eaten before their faith grew). From the Fijians I met, Catholicism and Methodist appear to the be the largest of the faiths, but I also saw Seventh Day Adventist churches along our drive. I'm sure there are other Christian groups, but not as prevalent in the area we were staying in.
Here is a standard home in the village and some of the kids that followed us around. I think this village was a bit more affluent (I can't remember if a resort leased some of their land or not) as the homes were in better condition than many we say elsewhere.
After a tour around the village, we were welcomed into the community hall where the elders along with some of the men and women of the village were just finishing up a meeting regarding the wedding of someone's son. The drink Kava is used during these meetings to help with negotiations. Kava was also used in welcoming us and making us honorary members of the village. It was an interesting process and I definitely felt honored by everyone. You can see me sitting up front with Doug and Dan on either side of me. We are presenting a box of items to the chief and elders sitting along the wall on the left. In front of us, you can just make out the rim of a bowl which holds the Kava.
In my next post I'll share some photos from the elementary school visit.
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