Fiji – Teaching Children of the Dawasamu Islands

Fiji is a country with an extensive history of unrest, but despite its socio-economic, political, and cultural struggles in the past, has now emerged as a stable and well-established country with a lot to offer. It is a compilation of 332 paradise-like islands surrounded by warm, tropical water and beautiful coral reefs. Volunteers will be placed in Dawasamu, which is a region on the mainland island of Viti Levu, in Fiji.

Volunteers will be working with students under the age of five, focusing on early childhood development to ensure that they have developed the necessary social, cognitive and emotional skills before starting school.

Volunteers will be working Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. Weekends and evenings are free for lesson planning, chores, social activities, or exploring the area. Tasks may include singing songs, feeding the children, organizing play group sessions and more.

Holidays: Due to school break, this program does not run in December,

Internet: No Internet is available.

Laundry: Volunteers can wash laundry by hand on site, or arrange for a local service to do the laundry for an additional fee.

Accommodations: Volunteers will stay in basic dorm-style huts, 5 – 10 volunteers (mixed sex) per room. Bathrooms are shared and are equipped with flush toilets and showers, running water is pumped from a well and is not heated. Electricity is powered by a generator and runs for a few hours each evening.

Food: Three meals a day are provided. Volunteers take turns cooking for everybody. Food is mostly vegetarian, with fish or meat available about once a week. Breakfast includes porridge, pancakes, or fruit; lunch usually includes pasta and vegetables; and dinner might include lentils, pasta, vegetables, beans or rice. Please note, Silana is a “dry” village, no alcohol is permitted.

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

• Minimum age of 18
• Police clearance
• English language skills
• Travel and medical insurance
• Ability to work in a team

Dress code: Please take into account proper cultural dress when preparing for your trip. Women should cover their shoulders at all times. Men should bring a short sleeved collared shirt to wear when in schools or at village functions.

During the weekends, you will be able to travel and explore around the area. Many participants enjoy travelling to other islands in the area for a quick day trip, relaxing at luxurious resorts in the area, and exploring the water with scuba diving. After the program is over, there are even more recommended places to visit, attainable after a day or two of travelling. These include travelling to Taveuni (known as the “garden of Fiji”) or visiting the capital city of Suva.

Please note: Water taxis are available to transport you to your desired tourist destinations around the island for around $30 USD round trip. Exploration of the nearby area by foot is always encouraged.

Special Offer: Volunteers who sign up and pay their deposit before April 30, 11:50 PM EST, for any start date, will receieve a discount of 250 USD, 200 GBP or 220 EUR. Contact us for details on how to receive this discount.