Villagers of Vunidogoloa, now known as Kenani in Koroalau, Cakaudrove, were gifted with a multi-purpose bus shelter by members of the Leadership Fiji 2022 (LF2022) cohort.
The project was successfully completed through gifts and fundraising activities and was built for the Vunidogoloa Women’s Club.
The first community to be relocated because of rising sea levels in Fiji, has been given another chance to take on the challenges brought in by climate change.
The multi-purpose bus shelter provides a marketplace for women to sell their produce and snacks; a seating place for school children and adults while they wait for buses as well as an ablution block with hand-washing facility.
Women’s club vice president Adi Sivo Yabakitolu said every member of the women’s club was excited about the opportunities presented to them.
“We now have a proper place to sell our produce,” she said.
“There is also a place for buses travelling from afar to stop and their passengers to have a break and use the bathroom.
“This place can be used by visitors who wish to visit the village to stop and see what our women are selling. There are opportunities and we are truly grateful for this.”
At the handover on July 29, LF2022 team leader Dr Deepak Sharma said the idea for the shelter was first brought up when the 28-member cohort visited the village in September last year.
“We were taken to the site by our guide former village headman Mr Sailosi (Ramatu), who showed us the trek to the old village site,” he said.
“Seeing how the village had been moved after leaving behind their former homes and their daily struggles, we felt a deep connection with the community.
“In January, a group of us came back to do some scope of works and we had discussions with the Cakaudrove Provincial Council and district officer to get the project off the ground after we signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with the village, further solidifying our commitment and works began soon after.”
“In addition, a water tank was also gifted to the village. The cohort also gifted books and partnered with Fiji Water Foundation and delivered bags to every student at the nearby Nabua Primary School.
“We also built a small library/ literature corner in their community hall and gifted books that are both in the iTaukei and English languages. There are books for all ages and can be accessed by all the villagers.”
Apart from the multipurpose bus shelter and the community library, the LF 2022 cohort partnered with ARUKA Fiji, a nonprofit organisation that is providing a positive social network that assists all needy widows and abandoned teens in Fiji, to deliver training on family, violence and counseling and Westpac Bank for providing training on financial literacy and running of the business for the women’s club.
The construction work on the facility by the LF2022 members began in May this year with the help of villagers and 27 members of the cohort travelled to Vanua Levu over three months to help in building the shelter and was completed in mid-July.
Dr Sharma said they were elated to help the village turn a fiveyear-long dream into reality. Mr Ramatu said this was a dream came true.
“So many people have come and gone with promises, but they never come back to us,” he said.
“This is one of the first groups that hear about our needs and make sure they deliver.
“I want to thank Leadership Fiji and Dr Sharma and his team for answering our prayers and for empowering our women’s club.”
Meanwhile, Dr Sharma said without their donors and supporters the project would not have been completed.
“The Leadership Fiji 2022 cohort would also like to thank its major partners Pacific Energy, Victory Protective Services and Lion One Ltd for their trust and support towards the project. The cohort also acknowledges everyone who support them during the process of the project and are humbled by the support that was received.”
